On April 10, 2003, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held talks with Yoon Young-kwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Li said bilateral relations have developed rapidly and the two countries have made gratifying achievements in cooperation since they established diplomatic ties eleven years ago. China is willing to work with the ROK to enrich the contents of the cooperative partnership and to make more contributions to the development and peace of the two countries and the region.

Li said China holds that the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear-free and China is committed to the maintenance of peace and stability of the region. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) security concerns should be taken into consideration by relevant parties and China supports the peaceful solution of the issue through dialogue. China hopes that relevant parties will exercise restraint and not take actions that may escalate the situation.

Yoon said the ROK attaches great importance to ROK-Chinese relations and is willing to further such relations in the new century. He said the ROK appreciates China's stance on the DPRK nuclear issue. As one of the key parties in the affairs of the Korean Peninsula, the ROK government has been working for peace and prosperity there and will continue to push the cooperation and exchanges between the south and the north. The ROK side will make its efforts to realize the peace, stability and non-nuclearization of the Peninsula.