BEIJING: China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) should join hands to safeguard the fruits of the victory in World War II and protect peace and stability in Northeast Asia, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday.
Xi made the remarks during talks with ROK President Lee Jae Myung in Beijing. Lee is in China for a state visit.
Recalling history, Xi said that more than 80 years ago, the two peoples made tremendous national sacrifices and won the victory against Japanese militarism.
China and the ROK shoulder important responsibilities in maintaining regional peace and promoting global development, and share a wide range of common interests, Xi said. He called on both sides to firmly stand on the right side of history and make correct strategic choices.
Xi extended sincere New Year greetings to the ROK people and said that he and President Lee have met twice and paid reciprocal visits, reflecting the high importance both sides attach to bilateral relations.
As close neighbors and friends, China and the ROK should maintain close exchanges, frequent communication and mutual engagement, Xi said. He stressed that China has always placed relations with the ROK high on its neighborhood diplomacy agenda and maintained consistency and stability in its policy toward the ROK.
China stands ready to work with the ROK to firmly uphold the direction of friendly cooperation, adhere to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win results, and advance the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership along a sound and steady track, Xi said. Such efforts, he added, will better serve the interests of the two peoples and inject positive energy into regional and global peace and development.
Xi also noted that the two countries have long upheld the principles of “paramount importance of peace” and “seeking harmony without uniformity,” transcending disparities in social systems and ideologies to achieve shared development. He called on both sides to carry forward this fine tradition, enhance mutual trust, respect each other’s chosen development paths, and accommodate each other’s core interests and major concerns.
Differences should be properly managed and resolved through dialogue and consultation, the Chinese president said.
Xi noted that the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has adopted recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), outlining a blueprint for China’s development over the next five years and offering broad opportunities for countries worldwide.
China and the ROK share close economic ties with industrial and supply chains deeply interwoven, and the bilateral cooperation is mutually beneficial, Xi said. The two countries should further align their development strategies, strengthen policy coordination, expand shared interests, and achieve more cooperation results in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, green industries and the silver economy, he added.
Xi also underscored the importance of expanding people-to-people exchanges, including among youth, media, sports, think tanks and local governments, so that positive narratives become the mainstream of public opinion.
As beneficiaries of economic globalization, China and the ROK should jointly oppose protectionism, practice true multilateralism, and contribute to a more equal and orderly multipolar world, as well as a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, Xi stressed. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
