On November 15, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, who was attending the 17th Ministerial Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Pusan, ROK, met respectively with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ban Ki-moon, Foreign Minister of Singapore George Yong-Boon Yeo and Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters.

The Chinese and ROK Foreign Ministers made positive comments on sound development of bilateral relations. Li emphasized that President Hu's up-coming state visit to the ROK will made clear the development goal of bilateral relations in the future from a strategic perspective, build up mutual understanding and trust and push for steady development of bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership.

Ban Ki-moon indicated that China is an important strategic cooperative partner of the ROK. The ROK government and people are earnestly looking forward to President Hu's visit to their country and it is believed that President Hu's current visit will further upgrade the level of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation.

Both sides stressed that they will continue jointly pushing for the process of six-party talks, fulfill the target of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and safeguard lasting peace and stability of the Peninsula.

When meeting with George Yong-Boon Yeo, Li noted that China appreciates the Singaporean government for reaffirming adherence to the one-China policy on many occasions and opposing "Taiwan independence". Both sides should further expand cooperation in the areas of economy and trade, security, culture and education, as well as international and regional affairs.

George Yong-Boon Yeo indicated that the Singaporean government attaches great importance to relations with China, understands that to properly handle the Taiwan question is key to safeguarding peace and stability of this region and will resolutely adopt the one-China policy.

Both sides also exchanged views on China-ASEAN cooperation, East Asian Summit and other issues.

When meeting with Peters, Li said that in order to push bilateral comprehensive cooperative relations to one new level after another, both sides should maintain high-level exchanges, deepen exchanges and cooperation in the areas of economy and trade, agriculture, livestock husbandry, culture and education, advance the development of free trade zone between both sides and strengthen consultations and coordination in the APEC and other international and regional organizations.

Peters noted that to enhance cooperative relations with China is of great significance to New Zealand and New Zealand would like to maintain political dialogue with China, push bilateral economic, trade and educational cooperation for more achievements and conduct exchanges with China in bird flu prevention and other areas.