During the visit, Roh is scheduled to hold summit with Chinese leaders on consolidating trust between the two countries and work out measures to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment. They will also touch on other issues of common concern, including a peaceful resolution to the DPRK nuclear problem.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Roh Moo-hyun are set to hold talks here on July 7, and this is the first meeting between the two leaders since their assuming office.

Chinese National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao will also meet with Roh Moo-hyun.

During his visit to China, Roh will address a China-ROK economic seminar as well as the faculty and students of Qinghua University. He will also visit the Great Wall.

China-ROK relations have developed steadily since the establishment of diplomatic relations 11 years ago, he said, noting that in 1998, former ROK President Kim Dae-jung and former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, during Kim's visit to China, announced the forging of a cooperative partnership to face the challenges of the 21st century.

In 2001, during former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's visit to the ROK, the leaders of the two countries agreed to upgrade the cooperative partnership for a new era of comprehensive cooperation.

In 2002, China received 2.12 million ROK tourist arrivals, while the ROK received 550,000 Chinese tourists.

In 1992, China-ROK bilateral trade stood at 5 billion US dollars, while in 2002, the volume reached 44 billion US dollars.

The first meeting between the new Chinese and ROK presidents is expected to lay a solid political ground for the long-term bilateral ties between the two countries.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2003)