Chinese, ROK FMs talk over phone on promoting ties

China's new foreign minister Wang Yi and his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se agreed to further promote bilateral relations during a telephone conversation Tuesday.

Congratulating Wang on his appointment, Yun said President Park Geun-hye attaches great importance to the bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation, hoping to take the leadership change in both countries as an opportunity to carry out planning for advancement of bilateral ties, deepen pragmatic cooperation in all areas, and strengthen communication on regional and international issues.

Wang said China-South Korea relations are facing an important opportunity and China is willing to work with South Korea to continuously promote the bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation.

Listening to Yun's introduction of South Korea's views about the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Wang reiterated China's stance of maintaining peace and supporting the denuclearization on the peninsula.

Wang said he had worked on promoting cross-Strait relations and unification of China in recent years. Although the cross-Strait relations are very different from those between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), he said he could feel the pain inflicted by separation of compatriots.

The Korean Peninsula issue is complicated, Wang said. However, to achieve peace, the two sides of the peninsula must maintain peace between them.

As the main neighboring country to the peninsula, China is willing to continue to play a constructive role in improving relations between South Korea and the DPRK so as to achieve peaceful unification on their own efforts.

On East Asia, Wang said China always attaches importance to regional cooperation which is based on the stability and development of bilateral relations. China is willing to work with South Korea and other countries to promote regional cooperation.