Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Friday that China hopes to advance the strategic cooperative partnership with the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Kim Hyong-o, speaker of South Korea's National Assembly, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 20, 2009. [Ju Peng/Xinhua]

"We will work with the ROK to increase friendly exchanges at various levels and enhance pragmatic cooperation in various sectors," Hu told Kim Hyong-o, speaker of the ROK National Assembly.

Hailing the smooth development of China-ROK ties in recent years, Hu said the leaders of the two nations had maintained frequent contacts, exchanged views often and reached broad consensus on important issues.

"This gives strong impetus to the growth of bilateral relations," Hu noted.

The two nations had also witnessed fruitful cooperation in economy, trade, environmental protection and energy, and made active exchanges between parliaments, political parties and people, he said.

"Our coordination in international and regional affairs are close," he added.

Both China and the ROK were faced with important tasks to promote economic recovery, improve people's life and safeguard peace and stability, Hu said, noting that to keep the stable and healthy growth of bilateral ties would not only benefit the two nations and the two peoples, but also help promote regional and world peace and development.

The government also supports the legislative organs from both countries to expand exchanges and cooperation, the president said, expressing his hope that the ROK parliamentary members would make efforts to promote China-ROK friendship.

Echoing Hu, Kim spoke highly of China's measures to cope with the international financial crisis and to maintain stable and rapid economic growth.

The ROK-China relations were at its best period in history, and the ROK National Assembly would work with the National People's Congress (NPC) of China to contribute to the further growth of ties between the two nations, Kim noted.

Kim is visiting China from Nov. 18 to 22 at the invitation of Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.