On September 5, 2016, President Xi Jinping met in Hangzhou with President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Xi Jinping expressed that during 1930s, the Provisional Government of the ROK spent three years in Hangzhou to fight against the Japanese aggression. He welcomed President Park Geun-hye to attend the G20 Summit held in Hangzhou, a city with historic significance to China-ROK relations.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and the ROK are close neighbors that share extensive common interests. The interests of both sides are always intertwined in realizing common development and promoting regional peace. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK 24 years ago, bilateral relations have achieved leapfrog development and brought enormous benefits to the two peoples. The two sides should cherish political mutual trust, maintain the foundation for cooperation, overcome difficulties and challenges and push for the stable and healthy development of China-ROK relations on the right track. China is willing to work with the ROK to well maintain and develop the hard-won China-ROK relations, and hopes that both sides can strive to expand positive aspects of China-ROK cooperation and contain negative elements. The two sides should respect the core interests of each other and ensure the steady and long-term development of China-ROK relations. Both sides should endeavor to seek common ground while shelving differences, so as to create a sound basis and environment for continuously advancing bilateral exchanges and cooperation. The two sides should safeguard peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and create a sound environment for common development. Both sides should also enhance cooperation in the regional and international arena and expand common interests of China and the ROK. China stands ready to deepen cooperation within multilateral frameworks and strengthen coordination on hotspot issues with the ROK.

Park Geun-hye noted that she is glad to meet with President Xi Jinping in Hangzhou, a city with historic significance to ROK-China relations. At present, bilateral relations maintain high-level development along the course set by the two heads of state, bringing along prosperity in the region as well. The development of friendly relations between the ROK and China is an irresistible trend. Attaching great importance to its relations with China, the ROK commits itself to further promoting bilateral relations with mutual trust as its basis. Both sides should take the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the ROK and China next year as an opportunity to deepen bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership. The ROK supports the efforts made by China in ensuring the success of the G20 Hangzhou Summit.

The two heads of state also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula situation. Xi Jinping pointed out that China is always committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula. The Korean Peninsula issue should eventually be resolved through dialogue and negotiation. We should stick to the Six-Party Talks, deal with concerns of all parties in a comprehensive and balanced way and strive to address both the symptoms and root causes, so as to achieve long-lasting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. China opposes the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system by the US in the ROK. Mishandling the issue is not conducive to strategic stability in the region, and could intensify conflicts. Park Geun-hye expressed the willingness to maintain close communication with China on related issues.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended the meeting.