On February 5, 2016, President Xi Jinping held telephone talks with President Park Geun-hye of the ROK. The two leaders exchanged greetings and blessings of the lunar new year and agreed to jointly promote bilateral relations to new highs.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China-ROK relations have achieved fruitful development results with the joint efforts of both sides. The political mutual trust and all-round exchanges and cooperation between the two countries are becoming increasingly frequent, the China-ROK FTA officially going into effect brings tangible benefits to both peoples and bilateral people-to-people and cultural exchanges are presenting a gratifying situation. Both sides are also promoting connection of their respective development strategies and keeping close communication and coordination on major international and regional issues. He is willing to continuously work with President Park Geun-hye to earnestly guide the work in all fields concerning China-ROK relations and thus push bilateral relations to new highs.

Park Geun-hye said that the ROK highly values ROK-China relations and devotes to joining efforts with China to deepen bilateral all-round cooperation. It is very important for leaders of both countries to keep frequent contacts on issues of common concern. The ROK is seriously concerned about the fourth nuclear test conducted by the DPRK not long ago and its announcement to launch satellite. The ROK hopes that the international community will enhance coordination and the UN Security Council will respond as soon as possible so as to effectively deal with the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Xi Jinping stressed that China firmly devotes itself to realizing the denuclearization on the Peninsula under any circumstances and to safeguarding peace and stability on the Peninsula and insists that the issue should be solved through dialogues and consultations. This is in the common interests of all Northeast Asian countries including China and the ROK. The Peninsula cannot have nuclear weapons as well as wars and chaos. China hopes that all parties will bear in mind the big picture of maintaining peace and stability on the Peninsula to calmly deal with the current situation and to stick to the right direction of dialogues and consultations. China will keep communication and coordination with the ROK on the nuclear issue on the Peninsula.