Chinese President Hu Jintao met South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Toronto Sunday and they vowed to further enhance the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries.

Chinese President Hu Jintao(R)meets with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Toronto,Canada,June 27,2010.[Li Xueren/Xinhua]

At the meeting, which occurred on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 (G20), Hu said China-South Korea cooperation have been increasingly strengthened in various areas, including politics, economy and culture, since the bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation was established in 2008.

The two countries have also maintained good coordination and cooperation in tackling major international and regional issues, said Hu.

China attaches great importance to its relations with South Korea and, from a long-term and strategic perspective, has always regarded the development of the ties as an important part of its foreign relations.

Hu voiced China's support for South Korea to host the Fifth G20 Summit in November this year, expressing his belief that the meeting would be a success.

On the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, Hu pointed out that China has always regarded peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula as the priority in dealing with the issues related to the peninsula.

China opposes and condemns any behavior that would do harm to stability in the region, he added.

All parties concerned should keep calm and restraint in face of the highly complicated and sensitive situation, with a view to the overall situation, said Hu.

Settlement of any issues on the Korean Peninsula should be based on the long-term interests of the people on the peninsula, Hu stressed, adding that China is ready to maintain close communication with South Korea.

Lee congratulated Hu on China's successful hosting of the Shanghai World Expo and said he was pleased that the South Korean Pavilion at the Expo has been popular with Chinese visitors.

Lee said his country also attaches great importance to the strategic partnership of cooperation with China. He promised that South Korea is willing to enhance the friendly cooperation between the two countries on the basis of the strategic partnership.

Lee said his country is optimistic about the future of bilateral trade as the economic and trade relations have developed rapidly between the two countries.

South Korea is willing to ink a free trade deal with China as soon as possible in order to promote the strategic partnership of cooperation and economic integration in East Asia, said Lee.

China-South Korea relations have grown at a fast pace since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1992. President Hu and President Lee announced the establishment of the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries in May 2008 when Lee visited China.

In recent years, political mutual trust between the two Asian nations has been enhanced, and trade cooperation expanded. China is now South Korea's largest trading partner in the world, while South Korea is China's fourth largest trading partner.

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