China appreciates the efforts made by the Republic of Korea (ROK) for developing bilateral relations, and hopes the two sides would continue their efforts to push forward the overall development of cooperative partnership in the new century, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said Tuesday.

Zhu made the remark during his talks with visiting ROK Prime Minister Lee Han-Dong, who arrived in Beijing earlier Tuesday on a working visit as Zhu's guest.

During the talks, they exchanged views on furthering Sino-ROK friendly relations of cooperation and other issues of common concern.

Zhu recalled that in 1998, the two countries' heads of state announced the establishment of a bilateral cooperative partnership oriented towards the 21st century, which he said made clear the direction for the development of bilateral ties.

Zhu said that during his visit to the ROK last year, the two sides agreed to push the cooperative partnership to a new phase of all-round cooperation and they also reached agreements on cooperation in many fields.

With concerted efforts from both sides, some of these agreements have been carried out, and some others are being implemented, Zhu said, expressing pleasure with the progress.

He said that the two countries have maintained high-level political contacts, which have promoted the overall development of bilateral ties.

He said that the two sides have conducted fruitful cooperation in safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and promoting regional peace and development, and they have enhanced mutual understanding and trust.

China and the ROK have also expanded cooperation in economy and trade, Zhu said. The two countries have made marked progress in cooperation in information technology and set up an investment cooperation committee, he said.

All this shows the further progress in the two countries' economic and trade cooperation.

Zhu also mentioned the Sino-ROK fishery agreement which will take effect on June 30, saying that it is of significance for maintaining a normal fishing order, protecting fishery resources and conducting cooperation in fishery.

Noting that 2002 will be the 10th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, Zhu said that both side should take the opportunity to push bilateral relations to a new high.

Lee conveyed ROK President Kim Dae-Jung's greetings to Zhu, and expressed admiration for the Chinese people's achievements in national construction and economic development under the leadership of the Chinese leaders and government.

He said that the ROK hopes that China can play an even more important role in economic stability of the region and the world at large.

Lee said that the ROK and China have conducted fruitful cooperation in many fields since they forged diplomatic ties.

Last year, the leaders of the two countries agreed to push forward overall cooperation last year, which played an important role in promoting bilateral relations.

In the past year, bilateral overall cooperation has been furthered gradually, and the establishment of the bilateral investment cooperation committee and the institute of bilateral economic cooperation in the 21st century should be hailed, he said.

He said that the ROK hopes that the two sides can further their cooperation of mutual benefit in such fields as information industry, finance, energy and iron and steel so as to add more concrete content to overall bilateral cooperation.

They also exchanged views on issues of common concern like the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee expressed appreciation for the Chinese government's consistent policy to support econciliation between the two sides on the Peninsula.

(Xinhua News Agency 06/20/2001)