President Park Geun-hye (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold summit talks in Beijing on Sept. 2.
President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping held summit talks in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept. 2. The two leaders discussed ways to develop Korea-China cooperation and how to deepen the friendly, bilateral relationship that exists between the two nations.
President Xi welcomed President Park, saying that, “I would like to thank you for coming to attend the celebration ceremony for the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.”
In response, President Park said, “I hope for a successful hosting of this celebratory event so that it can send a message of conciliation and future-forward cooperation across the region.”
She thanked the Chinese government for making efforts to preserve historic sites in China where Koreans fought for independence, such as the building used by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai, as this year marks the 70th anniversary of Korean independence from Japanese colonial rule.
The two leaders have shared the common understanding that the bilateral relationship has been showing unprecedented rapid development over the past two and a half years, since the beginning of new administrations in each country.
Some examples they mentioned to illustrate the progress made in their relationship include bilateral and multilateral summit meetings, meetings between foreign ministers, the launching of four strategic dialogue channels that involve top security and diplomatic officials, and the volume of annual people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, which exceeded 10 million people.
Regarding cultural exchanges between Korea and China, the two leaders agreed to expand and develop joint projects to bolster bilateral ties in the humanities, which both sides have been carrying out since last year in order to broaden understanding among the two peoples. Korea and China also agreed to cooperate on the successful hosting of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics 2018 and the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022.
President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping discuss measures to further develop their bilateral relationship during a summit meeting in Beijing on Sept. 2.
In regard to recent tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the two presidents praised both Koreas for reaching an agreement to ease the tension. They hoped that the latest agreement can lead to concrete action that could accelerate the Korean Peninsula trust-building process. Both leaders agreed to strengthen communications and negotiations in regard to developments on the Korean Peninsula. They emphasized the full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and the Sept. 19 Joint Statement on denuclearization, in particular, while expressing a clear objection to any kind of action that could escalate tensions.
President Park and President Xi reaffirmed their stance that both countries stick to the goal of denuclearization, which has been stated many times in the past. Mentioning the recent breakthrough in nuclear talks in Iran, they said with one united voice that the meaningful six-party talks should be resumed as soon as possible. Both presidents emphasized that the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula would contribute to peace and prosperity across the region.
The two leaders shared the view that a trilateral cooperative structure involving Korea, Japan and China should be maintained and be further developed as an important frame of cooperation for peace, stability and prosperity. In this regard, they agreed to hold a trilateral summit among the three countries in Korea sometime in late October or November this year.
President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk toward the venue of the special luncheon after holding the Korea-China summit in Beijing on Sept 2.
President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a special luncheon after holding the Korea-China summit in Beijing on Sept. 2.
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
arete@korea.kr
