(VOVworld) - Chinese and Korean state leaders have pledged to enhance bilateral cooperation and discuss the situation in the Korean peninsula.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (1st R) meets with his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye (2nd L) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, March 23, 2014. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Park Geun-Hye made the statement at a meeting on Monday on the sidelines of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit at The Hague, in the Netherlands. President Xi underlined that both peoples would benefit from enhanced cooperation between their countries. President Park welcomed the success in cooperation so far and called for efforts to increase mutual visits by leaders from both countries, improve the mechanisms of the ROK-China strategic dialogue and joint committee for cultural exchanges, and conclude the bilateral free trade agreement negotiations at an early date.

Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, President Xi said that China took a positive view towards the trust-building process proposed by President Park and hoped that the two Koreas could take a long-term perspective and constantly push forward with the reconciliation and cooperation process, in a bid to achieve independent and peaceful reunification.

With regard to Pyongyang’s nuclear program, President Xi said that it was a complicated issue and all relevant parties should grasp any opportunity to ease the current situation for an early resumption of the six-party talks.

President Park reiterated China’s important role in improving relations between the two Koreas and promoting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.