\u201cGrasping this opportunity (the Cheonan incident), good communication and cooperation between the two sides have occurred,\u201d Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Zhang Xinsen told Ahn Sang Soo, house leader of the Grand National Party, in a meeting between the two in Seoul today. <\/p>\n
Ambassador Zhang further rejected the August 30th assertion by President Lee Myung Bak whereby it \u201cappears that relations between China and South Korea have drifted apart because of the Cheonan incident,\u201d stating definitively, \u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
President Lee made the comment in a meeting with Vice-chairman of the National People\u2019s Congress Chen Zhili on August 30th.<\/p>\n
On the contrary, according to Ambassador Zhang, \u201cWe know very well that the two countries making a constant effort to relieve tensions and pursue peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula corresponds to the common interests of all the countries in this region, including South Korea and China.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cThe relationship between the two countries, which began as a tiny shoot, has developed into a tree of many fruits. Our countries\u2019 strategic cooperative partnership has developed significantly; relations have already become mature.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChina is presently South Korea\u2019s biggest trading partner, and we are China\u2019s fourth biggest,\u201d Ahn, agreeing with Ambassador Zhang, said. \u201cRelations between the two countries have developed that much. In terms of China\u2019s quantum leap, there have been several important causes, but they are a consequence of having a good leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cIn order to lead North Korea down the path of practical denuclearization, reform, opening and cooperation are crucial.\u201d <\/p>\n
Ahn also noted, \u201cI hear that Chairman Kim Jong Il visited China and stated that the North will return to the Six-Party Talks. However, there are some points that we can hardly understand,\u201d and pointed out, \u201cI believe more responsible actions and the will to change are necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about the purpose of Kim Jong Il\u2019s visit, Zhang evaded giving a direct answer, simply saying, \u201cChina is engaged in international exchanges with neighboring countries\u2019 leaders. Relations with North Korea are one part of this big framework.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cGrasping this opportunity (the Cheonan incident), good communication and cooperation between the two sides have occurred,\u201d Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Zhang Xinsen told Ahn Sang Soo, house leader of the Grand National Party, in a meeting between the two in Seoul today. Ambassador Zhang further rejected the August 30th assertion by President Lee Myung […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":154,"featured_media":13085,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n