President Hu Jintao said Tuesday that China is ready to work with the Republic of Korea (ROK) to promote the comprehensive and cooperative partnership. 

Hu told Park Geun-hye, chairwoman of the Grand National Party, that the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government have attached importance to its relations with the ROK, and will increase exchanges and cooperation at the party-to-party and other levels for a stable growth of the comprehensive and cooperative partnership.

China and the ROK agreed to forge the partnership when Hu met ROK President Roh Moo-hyun last year.

The two countries established full diplomatic relations 13 years ago.

Hu said there are many favorable conditions for the two sides to develop friendly ties, citing geographical vicinity, close cultural links and high complementarity in economic structure.

Two-way trade between China and the ROK reached US$90.068 billion in 2004, up 42.2 percent from the previous year. The ROK was China's fourth largest trading partner while China was the largest trading partner of ROK.

In addition, the ROK was the third largest source of direct overseas investment to China last year. The ROK businesses invested US$6.248 billion in China in 2004 alone.

For her part, Park said the Grand National Party highly appreciates the capability of the CPC in leading China to the long-term economic boom.

She said her party will work with the CPC for a sustainable growth of bilateral relations.

(Xinhua News Agency May 25, 2005)