On January 13, 2009, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue met in the Foreign Ministry with a visiting press delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Hu made positive comments on China-ROK relations. He said although the two countries established diplomatic ties only 17 years ago, their relations have featured rapid growth, frequent exchange, deepening cooperation, wide rang and good prospect. The two sides have witnessed frequent high-level visits. Last year, President Hu Jintao paid an important state visit to the ROK and ROK President Lee Myung-bak visited China three times, which marked a new phase of development for bilateral ties. The two sides have scored remarkable results in economic and trade cooperation with China being ROK's biggest trading partner and export market. The ROK has become China's third biggest trading partner and fourth biggest source of foreign direct investment. The people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are also very dynamic and there are over 850 flights flying between the two countries each week on average. What is particularly important is that the two peoples from all walks of life show understanding and support for the wide-ranging, multi-layered friendly exchanges and hold that developing China-ROK relations is in the interest of both peoples and is also conducive to peace, stability and development of the region.

Hu said the two countries share broad common interests in international and regional affairs and have conducted sound cooperation on the six-party talks and East Asia cooperation. Currently with the spread of the international financial crisis, the two countries should join hands to conquer difficulties. The news media have an important role to play in pushing forward bilateral ties, he said. Hu hoped that the journalists will know more about China through the current visit and make active contribution to building mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and promoting bilateral cooperation.

The delegation members said they cherished very much this precious opportunity to visit China. The ROK media pay close attention to China and hope to strengthen exchanges with China's press circle and gain a better understanding of the country, they noted. They pledged to introduce what they have seen and heard in China to their people and make their own contribution to the development of bilateral friendly relations.

Assistant Foreign Minister Hu also took questions from the ROK journalists on issues including China-ROK relations, the six-party talks, China-DPRK Friendship Year, the relations between the North and South on the Korean Peninsula and China's efforts to cope with the financial crisis.

The press delegation from the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade are visiting China at the invitation of the Information Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Besides Beijing, they will also visit Zhejiang Province.