On the afternoon of February 25, 2008, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Myung-bak met with Chinese President Hu Jintao's special envoy and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan at the Cheong Wa Dae presidential office and residence.

Tang conveyed a message from the Chinese president to Lee Myung-bak, who was sworn in as the 17th president of the Republic of Korea (ROK) earlier in the day. In the message, Hu extended his congratulations and regards to Lee and said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to ties with ROK and is ready to work with the ROK side to promote bilateral ties in a comprehensive way. The Chinese president also said in the message that strengthened ties between the two countries will benefit the two peoples and contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world at large.

Lee responded by asking the Chinese envoy to send his sincere greetings and best wishes to Chinese President Hu Jintao. Lee said China is an important economic partner for the ROK and plays an important role in regional issues in northeast Asia. The ROK hopes that the communication between leaders of the two countries can be further strengthened and bilateral cooperation extended to push bilateral ties to a new level, Lee said. Lee wished China every success in hosting the 2008 Olympics, saying the event will promote China's development and benefit the ROK as well as the world.

Tang emphasized as neighbors and important partners, China and the ROK share broad common interests and have vast cooperation potential both in bilateral ties and in international and regional affairs. China is willing to maintain high-level contact with the ROK, enhance mutual political trust, explore possibilities of pragmatic cooperation, expand cultural exchanges, properly handle relevant issues and keep closer communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, aiming to bring bilateral ties to a higher level, the Chinese envoy said.

Lee said his country highly praises China's important role in realizing the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and is ready to strengthen cooperation with China to push for the implementation of agreements reached at the Six-Party Talks. Tang said China and the ROK have maintained sound contact and cooperation in the Six-Party Talks and China is ready to work with all parties concerned including the ROK to push forward the talks, so as to achieve the goal of denuclearization at an early date and construct a framework to ensure eternal peace and security on the peninsula and in the whole of northeast Asia.