Visiting President Hu Jintao said in Seoul Thursday that China and South Korea should further advance their all-around partnership of cooperation.

In a speech to the South Korean National Assembly, Hu said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 13 years ago, China and South Korea have witnessed rapid progress in the development of their bilateral relations.

"Nowadays, Sino-South Korean relations have entered the best stage in history," he added.

Hu put forward four points for furthering the development of the all-around partnership of cooperation between the two countries.

Politically, he said, Sino-South Korean relations should become a model of peaceful coexistence between countries that have different social systems.

The diversity of and complementarity between development patterns and social systems are the main impetus for the world's development, Hu said.

He said the development of Sino-South Korean relations has proved that if differences and issues are handled properly on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding, mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual promotion, countries of different social systems can coexist peacefully and develop a long-term friendly cooperation.

Economically, China and South Korea should become partners that can achieve mutually beneficial, win-win, and common development, he said.

"The two sides should continue to explore new fields of cooperation and bring their cooperation to a new high," he added.

The two countries will make concerted efforts to achieve an annual trade volume of US$200 billion by 2012, the 20th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties, he said.

Hu expressed the belief that the two sides will surely achieve more fruitful results in boosting common development and prosperity on the basis of mutual benefit and a win-win policy.

Culturally, he said, the two countries should be friends that can learn from and complement each other.

Strengthening exchanges in the fields of culture, education, and science and technology will further promote the two countries' development, as well as their bilateral relations, Hu said.

China and South Korea have set the year 2007, the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, as the "Year for Sino-South Korean Exchanges," and reached consensus on enhancing exchanges between young people, he said.

"We should actively explore new fields of cooperation to diversify the forms of exchange and give a greater impetus to the development of bilateral relations," Hu said.

On international affairs, Hu said China and South Korea should become forces which promote peace and development of humankind.

The two countries share similar views on a number of important international and regional affairs, he said, adding that China and South Korea are shouldering significant responsibilities for peace and development on the Korean Peninsula.

Sino-South Korean ties have gone beyond the scope of bilateral relations against the backdrop of a multi-polar world and economic globalization, Hu noted.

"We should actively adapt to the development of and change in the international situation, make concerted efforts to safeguard world peace, and promote common development," he said.

In his speech, Hu also said the all-around development of ties between the two countries has benefited from three factors: unswerving adherence to the policy of good-neighborliness and friendliness; promotion of common development through practical cooperation; and persistence in the policy of mutual respect, mutual trust and equality.

The total trade volume between the two countries will exceed US$100 billion this year, he said, noting that China has become South Korea's top trading partner and destination country for investment.

In the meantime, South Korea has become China's third largest trading partner and second biggest foreign capital source, Hu said.

He stressed that the two sides have maintained frequent exchanges in such fields as culture, education and science and technology, saying, "A bridge for understanding and friendship has been set up between the two peoples."

On international and regional affairs, the coordination and cooperation between China and South Korea are becoming closer, Hu said.

"Sino-South Korean friendship has taken root in the hearts of the peoples and sees a pleasant future in its development," he said.

Hu expressed appreciation to the people of all walks of life, especially South Korea's National Assembly, for their contribution to the friendly cooperation between the two countries.

"The National People's Congress of China and South Korea's National Assembly have launched good cooperation, which enriches the all-around partnership of cooperation between the two countries," he said.

He hoped that the two legislatures, which will establish a mechanism of regular exchanges, will strengthen cooperation to make greater contribution to the development of relations between China and South Korea.

China stands for peaceful settlement of nuclear issue

China stands for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the peninsula, Hu said.

Hu said China's stance on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula is unequivocal and consistent and China supports all efforts conducive to peace and stability on the peninsula.

He noted that China has made unremitting efforts for the denuclearization of the peninsula.

He described the joint statement of the fourth-round six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue as "an important staged success" achieved through the joint efforts of China, South Korea and the other four parties.

"Facts have proved that peaceful dialogue is the most realistic and feasible means to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula," he said.

China will continue its efforts to bring a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, he said, adding that he also hopes relevant parties will stick to the policy of seeking a peaceful solution to the issue through dialogue.

He called on the parties concerned to be more flexible, calm and pragmatic in an effort to gain more common ground so as to make new headway in the talks and eventually realize the common objective of solving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue in a peaceful way.

China always believes that the issues on the Korean Peninsula can be solved only through dialogue and negotiations between the two sides on the peninsula, he said.

Hu pledged his country's continuous support to the two sides for improving their ties through dialogue, building mutual trust and finally realizing the peaceful unification of the peninsula on their own.

China is ready to play a constructive role in important issues regarding the peace and stability of Northeast Asia and Asia as a whole, making its due contribution along with South Korea, said Hu.

Hu urges Asia to promote regional cooperation

Hu called on Asian countries to promote regional cooperation and non-governmental exchanges, increase mutual trust and create a harmonious environment in the region.

Hu said that Asia is undergoing complex and profound changes, facing not only historic opportunities but also serious challenges in its bid for rejuvenation and development.

Seeking peace, development and cooperation is the common wish of the Asian people, and is crucial to the Asian nations in creating a bright future, Hu said.

He pointed out that Asian governments and people are facing the tremendous task of building a continent in which countries enjoy harmonious political ties, economic equality and reciprocity, mutual trust, security cooperation and cultural exchanges.

Both China and South Korea are important countries in Asia and should play an active role in promoting regional peace and development, he told South Korean lawmakers.

For this goal, Hu made three proposals to Asian countries.

First, he said Asian countries should increase mutual trust and create a harmonious environment.

He said Asia is a region of diversity, where countries differ in ideology, political system, cultural background, development level and concerns.

Only through mutual respect, sincerity, understanding and compromises and the practice of seeking common grounds while shelving differences, can the nations together create an atmosphere of peace, security and political harmony, Hu said.

Secondly, he said Asian countries should promote regional cooperation and speed up development.

To push forward regional cooperation is crucial to the development of Asian nations, he pointed out.

The countries should seek new ideas, explore new fields for cooperation and work out a mode of cooperation that conforms to regional conditions by following the principles of showing mutual respect, reaching unanimity through consultation, proceeding step by step and striving for mutual benefits and win-win results, Hu said.

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan and South Korea set the establishment of an East Asian community as a long-term goal at the 10+3 summit in November last year.

The decision showed that Asian regional cooperation has entered a new phase of development, Hu said.

He called for the construction of a sound multilateral cooperation mechanism in key fields such as energy, infrastructure, environmental protection, finance and agriculture. Various regional cooperation mechanisms should also be encouraged to carry out exchanges and promote the development of one another, Hu said.

Thirdly, he said Asian countries should deepen people-to-people friendship and consolidate the foundation of cooperation.

Non-governmental exchanges constitute an important basis for the development of national ties and a key aspect of regional cooperation, he said.

He called on Asian countries to respect regional diversity in culture, religions and values, and carry out cultural exchanges in various forms, particularly exchanges between young people.

The governments should step up cooperation in such fields as technology, education and culture, and encourage businesses, civilian groups, academic institutions and media organizations to play an important role in promoting people-to-people friendship, he added.

China stands for world peace

Hu said China stands for world peace and common development.

Hu said China will unswervingly pursue peaceful development, uphold peace, development and cooperation as the prime purposes of the country's policies and adhere to the basic state policy of opening up to the outside world.

China will endeavor to develop itself through preserving a peaceful international environment while promoting world peace through its own development, he stressed. He also pledged that China will conduct broad cooperation and exchanges with various countries for mutual benefit,

The Chinese people are working hard to build a well-off society in an all-around way, he said, adding that China always focuses its effort on promoting economic and social development and continuously improving its people's life.

Hu arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for a state visit to South Korea, the last leg of his four-nation European-Asian tour, which has already taken him to Britain, Germany and Spain.

(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2005)