Arduous task to denuclearize Korean Peninsula, says Hu

SYDNEY—Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Friday that all relevant parties should continue to work for the achievement of the goal of denuclearization on the Korean peninsula.
Arduous task lies ahead in the efforts to seek a final resolution to the issue, Hu said when he met South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.
He said that thanks to the concerted efforts of all sides, the six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula have made progress with consensus reached through dialogues, laying a solid foundation for work in the next phase.
The six-party talks which involve China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the United States, South Korea, Russia and Japan, have undergone six rounds in Beijing, with various working groups set up to deal with concrete matters.
China is willing to work with other parties, including South Korea, to help implement the agreements already inked in a comprehensive and balanced manner and steadily push forward the six-party talks, Hu said.
China will “strive for the realization of denuclearization on the peninsula at an early date to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula and in northeast Asia,” he said.
Roh said that facts have proven that dialogue is the ideal way for tackling the nuclear issue on the peninsula.
He commended the role played by China in the process, saying that the good coordination and cooperation between South Korea and China, which hosts the six-party talks, on peninsula-related affairs were important and he hoped both sides will maintain such close communication.
The two presidents also spoke highly of the development of bilateral ties. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and South Korea. A series of activities have been held to mark the occasion.
“China-South Korea ties have scored new progress,” Hu said, citing frequent exchanges of high-level visits, new breakthroughs in two-way trade and the colorful events of the China-South Korea Exchange Year. Both countries also maintain close communication and coordination on regional and international affairs, he added.
Both China and South Korea are important countries in northeast Asia, he said, adding that the consolidation and development of bilateral ties serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples and are conducive to peace and development in the region.
China will make unremitting efforts to deepen the partnership of all-around cooperation between the two countries, he said. Roh also praised the achievement in bilateral trade and investment and highly appreciated the importance attached to the development of bilateral ties by the Chinese government .
After the meeting, Hu and Roh witnessed the signing of an agreement on the promotion and protection of investment in each other’s country.
Both presidents are here to attend the economic leaders’ meeting of the 21-member APEC forum, due to be held on September 8-9 in this scenic coastal city of Australia.

—The Daily Mail, China Daily news exchange item