Chinese, ROK presidents pledge all-round cooperation (2)

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) and South Korean President Park Geun-hye (R, front) meet with youth delegates from both countries after their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2013. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

Park said the ROK is committed to safeguarding peace and stability in northeast Asia, seeking a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and resolving relevant issues through the six-party talks.

The ROK appreciates China's role in promoting denuclearization and safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula, Park said, pledging to increase strategic communication and cooperation with China and create favorable conditions for the resumption of the six-party talks.

She underscored the ROK's commitment to improving ties with the DPRK on the basis of trust and laying a foundation for peace and unification on the peninsula.

The two presidents agreed to increase exchanges at multiple levels and in multiple areas, deepen economic and technological cooperation, make joint efforts to reach a free trade agreement, beef up cultural and people-to-people exchanges and enhance coordination in the United Nations and other major international mechanisms.

After the talks, the two sides issued a joint statement and an action plan to enhance the strategic partnership between China and the ROK.

According to the action plan, the two countries have decided to start talks on maritime demarcation at an early date.

"The two sides reconfirmed the vital importance of maritime demarcation in advancing bilateral ties, as well as boosting maritime cooperation," says the plan.

"(The two sides) have decided to launch maritime demarcation talks as soon as possible so as to advance the process of maritime demarcation," the plan says.

The two sides agreed to boost communication and cooperation, strengthen joint surveillance and management and enhance joint studies to protect fishery resources in relevant waters.

China and the ROK will also increase exchanges on historical studies, according to the action plan.