By Xinhua
Beijing : Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Han Duck-soo attended a grand performance in Beijing on Monday evening, marking the closing of the China-ROK Exchange Year, a year-long bilateral cultural program.
Young artists from the two countries, including renowned dancers, children singers and disabled performers, presented a fantastic show to the two leaders together with more than 1,000 audience.
Addressing the occasion, Premier Wen said over 100 activities had been held under the framework of the China-ROK Exchange Year, which evoked warm acclamations and positive response from the public and boosted mutual understanding and win-win cooperation between both countries.
Considering youth as the future of a nation and a fresh force to inherit China-ROK friendship, Wen called on youth of the two countries to have more exchange of ideas in order to cultivate trust and friendship from childhood.
Hailing the remarkable progress of bilateral ties in the past 15 years, Han Duck-soo said the ROK is to join hands with China to step up bilateral all-round cooperative ties and strive for a better future of the northeast Asia.
He believed the the China-ROK Exchange Year had cemented traditional friendship of the two peoples and laid a sound foundation for future bilateral cooperation.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of China-ROK diplomatic ties as well as the Year of China-ROK Exchange.