China’s new leader expresses hope for closer relations with S. Korea

China's new leader Xi Jinping sent a message to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak saying he hopes to work together with Seoul to further deepen relations between the two countries and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, the presidential office said Wednesday.

The message came after Lee offered congratulations on Xi's election earlier this month.

"China and South Korea are friendly neighboring countries and have seen a marked development in bilateral relations over the past 20 years since establishing diplomatic relations," Xi said in the message, according to presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha.

China takes relations with South Korea "highly significantly," and hopes to work together with Seoul to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various areas and safeguard peace on the Korean Peninsula, Xi was quoted as saying.

Earlier this month, Xi was elected general secretary of the Communist Party's Central Committee and also named chair of the China Military Commission, which controls the country's military command. He is expected to officially succeed Hu Jintao as president in March.

(Yonhap News)