Xi, Moon discuss bilateral ties, denuclearization of Korean Peninsula

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in have discussed bilateral relationship and achieving peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula in a telephonic conversation on Friday.

Moon briefed Xi on the feat of the historic inter-Korean Summit, held last week, reported China's state-run news agency Xinhua.

Moon underscored that the "successful summit has reached broad consensuses on improving the inter-Korean relations, promoting the denuclearization of the Peninsula and establishing a peace mechanism."

According to the report, the South Korean President praised Xi Jinping's role in helping Seoul and Pyongyang reach an agreement on denuclearization.

Xi laid emphasis on the bilateral ties, saying that Beijing is willing to boost the relationship between the two countries by enhancing communication with South Korea, deepening pragmatic cooperation, and promoting cultural exchanges.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held their historic summit last week in Panmunjom n the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), the world's most heavily guarded border, separating the two countries.

The inter-Korean summit was also unique as it was the first time in over a decade that it was being held. The previous two summits were held in 2000 and 2007 in North Korean capital of Pyongyang. It was also the first time that the summit was being held in South Korea.

In a joint declaration after the talks, the two leaders officially inaugurated a document formally called the 'Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification on the Korean Peninsula'.

The two Koreas agreed to sign a peace treaty formally later this year, ending the six-decades-old war between the two countries.

The South Korean President is also slated to visit Pyongyang later this year, according to a statement released by his presidential office.

Kim Jong-Un on April 21 announced to suspend its nuclear tests and inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests.

Following that, on April 29 South Korean President Moon Jae-in's chief press secretary Yoon Young-chan confirmed that Punggye-ri nuclear site will be closed down by May amidst the presence of public and foreign experts from South Korea and the United States.