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Chinese President Hu Jintao said Friday that from a long-term and strategic point of view, Korea and China could put together enough wisdom and appropriately resolve each others matters of concern if all they did was respect one another and treat each other with sincerity.
In a verbal message conveyed by National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Chairman Jia Qinglin, who paid President Roh Moo-hyun a courtesy call on Friday, Hu said the Sino-Korean relationship had been influenced to some degree by the Koguryo issue.
Hu also said that both he and the Chinese government, with much interest in the Koguryo issue, had asked Jia Qinglin to conduct a frank exchange of views on the issue with President Roh. Hu optimistically said the bilateral relationship could continue to develop in the right direction in a healthy and stable way.
Hu pointed out that when Roh visited China last year, the two nations decided to pursue total bilateral cooperation, and the development of direction between the two nations grew clearer.
Hu also said that it wasn't easy for the Sino-Korean relationship to develop to the level it is at today, and both sides would have to maintain that relationship. Premised on this, Hu said he and his government were pursuing a policy of friendship toward Korea. He also expressed his respect for President Roh for the high opinion he has shown for the development of Sino-Korean ties.
He continued on, calling on Korea and China to understand and respect one another, and to become good neighbors and partners that trust one another. He said he would tirelessly work so that prosperity between the two nations helps peace and prosperity in both the region and the world.
About this, President Roh expressed much regret that the Koguryo issue had become a point of contention between the two nations. He asked that the Chinese government sufficiently understand what the Korean people and government think about this issue and take prompt and convincing measures in accordance with agreements made between the two governments.
Roh stressed that the issue must be solved through reasoned discussion, not emotional confrontation, said Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kim Jong-min.
Jia Qinglin said that China does not want to damage its relations with Korea over a 2,000-year-old historical issue, and would cope with the problem in a sincere and responsible fashion sufficiently taking into account Korea's concerns.
Spokesperson Kim said a start has been made to solving the Koguryo issue responsibly at the government level. He said a concrete discussions will take place based on the five-article verbal agreement made between the vice foreign ministers of both sides.
(Shin Jeong-rok, jrshin@chosun.com )
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