On August 14, 2003, President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea met with visiting Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing at Chong Wa Dae.

Li said that the successful visit to China by Roh not long ago had witnessed a common understanding reached by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Roh of promoting bilateral ties to all-around cooperative partnership, and this has promoted and enhanced reciprocal cooperation in all fields between the two countries. He said that his current visit is for the purpose of implementing the common consensus reached by the two top leaders. Li also thanked ROK for its understanding and support to China's fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Li said that China attaches great importance to safeguarding permanent peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and is willing to see the promotion of national reconciliation process by both sides of the Peninsula. He said that China and ROK share important interests on peacefully solving the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear issue through dialogue. He noted that it accords with the wishes of various parties to have a successful launch of the Beijing six-country talks and to make the talks go deep and go long. He added that there have emerged opportunities of realizing dialogue for the time being but difficulties and zigzags are unavoidable because of the intricacy of the nuclear issue. China is willing to make joint efforts with parties concerned and work patiently so that Beijing talks can deliver results. The Chinese side welcomes ROK to attend the six-party talks and play an active and constructive role.

Roh agreed with Li's remarks on China-ROK relations, saying that ROK sets store by its ties with China. He said that through his recent visit to China, he felt the amity and sincerity Chinese people hold toward ROK people and he would like to make efforts in developing the comprehensive and cooperative partnership with China. Roh also congratulated on the success of China's fight against SARS, saying that China showed unity, impavidity and responsibility to the world during the fighting against SARS.

Roh said that Li’s visit has brought important message concerning the peaceful solution of DPRK nuclear issue. He said that Korea sincerely thanks China for China’s active mediation and promotion of peaceful talks. He noted the efforts made by the Chinese side are in the interests of the region and ROK is willing to have close coordination with China within the framework of the six-party talks to work for a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue.