Better China-ROK relations

The deepening of China-ROK relations can also help increase political mutual trust and security cooperation between the two countries. By eliminating the antagonistic feelings that were a product of the Cold War, the two countries can bring their bilateral relations to a higher level, and having friendly ties with both the ROK and the DPRK, China can play a greater role as mediator in the peninsula issue.

With their great potential and demonstrated resilience, China-ROK relations can serve as a point of breakthrough in improving relations between the ROK and DPRK, and so in solving the peninsula issue. The constant development of China-ROK relations testifies that the strategic situation in Northeast Asia is not static. The further development of China-ROK relations will contribute to the formation of a new and closer, friendly cooperative partnership in Northeast Asia, contain the expansion of right-wing forces in the region and promote regional prosperity and stability.

The desire for denuclearization of the peninsula, in addition to the common interests of Beijing and Seoul, lays a solid foundation for deepening bilateral relations. The goal of denuclearization is to eliminate the possibility of nuclear conflict, nuclear accident and nuclear proliferation on the peninsula. This is the precondition for the peninsula's stability and security and is also closely related to China's strategic interests. The military conflict on the peninsula is a historical issue that sowed the seeds of distrust between the ROK and the DPRK, and that is why China supports the peninsula trust-building process proposed by Seoul, under which the ROK and the DPRK can improve their relations through dialogue and make concerted efforts to realize long-term peace and stability on the peninsula.

Deepening economic and trade cooperation also conforms to the common interests of China and the ROK. As China presses ahead with comprehensive deepening of reform and strives to modernize the country's governance system, based on the decision endorsed at the Third Plenum of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, it will demonstrate increasing interconnectivity with the ROK on the economic and social fronts. The ongoing negotiations on completing a high-level, comprehensive free trade pact between China and the ROK will lead to closer economic and trade relations between the countries and have a far-reaching influence on the strategic environment in Northeast Asia.

It is noteworthy that both China and the ROK fell prey to imperialist invasion and oppression in the last century. Understandably, they share a common stance on the rights and wrongs of the key historical matters. This can facilitate the forming of an objective and fair international atmosphere, advance Northeast Asia's peace and stability process and propel the building of regional security mechanism.

The author is a professor at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army.