BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged the Republic of Korea (ROK) to address China's reasonable security concerns and "cautiously and appropriately" handle the U.S. plan to deploy its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the country.
Xi made the remarks as he met with visiting ROK Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn in Beijing.
China and the ROK should continue to work for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, work together to maintain peace and stability on the Peninsula, and push relevant parties to solve problems through dialogue and consultation, said the president.
Hwang said that the ROK is willing to maintain close communication with China about the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and relevant affairs.
Invited by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Hwang is visiting China from June 26 to 30. During the visit, Hwang attended the 10th Summer Davos Forum in Tianjin.
Praising the development of their strategic cooperative partnership, Xi called on the two countries to properly implement the consensus he and ROK President Park Geun-hye reached to constantly push forward bilateral ties.
The two sides should strengthen the leading role of high-level contact and enhance political mutual trust through consultation and dialogue, said the Chinese president.
Xi urged the two countries to integrate China's Belt and Road Initiative with the ROK's Eurasia Initiative to create new bright spots for cooperation.
Both countries should properly implement their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and deepen fiscal and financial cooperation, Xi added.
He also called on the two sides to enhance people-to-people exchanges to consolidate a foundation for bilateral relations.
The ROK stands ready to continue close bilateral high-level contact, Hwang said, noting the country wants to forge stronger economic ties with China through the FTA.
The ROK is willing to coordinate the Eurasia Initiative and the Belt and Road Initiative as well as strengthen bilateral collaboration in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), he stressed.
Hwang also highlighted the role of people-to-people ties in ROK-China relations.