South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, currently visiting the United States, met with Chinese Prime Minister Hu Jintao on Wednesday in New York City (Sep. 23, local time) and reconfirmed close coordination between the two countries in dealing with North Korean nukes.

During the 40-minute talks, the two leaders promised to maintain the cooperative partnership between their two nations for a peaceful settlement on the Korean Peninsula, as well as that of the Northeast Asian region. The talk, though brief, is viewed with significance amid the recent big transition going on between South and North Korea.

It was President Lee who first mentioned about North Korean nukes, thanking China for the leading role it has played as convener of the six party talks. “I hope our relations become closer, despite the economic downturn,” he said.

Hu, in response, gave credit to the fulfillment of a bilateral agreement that was drawn up at the past Korea-China summit and stressed China''s satisfaction vis-à-vis coordination between two countries on both international and regional issues. 

“China values its relations with (South) Korea very much,” Hu pointed out. “Amid the big change taking place in both the international and regional scenes it is my wish that we strengthen strategic communication and reciprocal relations between the two countries that can benefit bilateral ties and contribute to peace in Northeast Asia,” he said. 

It is reported that China''s State Councilor Dai Bingguo was also there with the two leaders to explain the results of his recent visit to the North, most likely to demonstrate on the spot the cooperation between the two nations on the nuclear issue.

President Lee reiterated Seoul''s firm principle in dealing with North Korea and the need for an inter-Korean dialogue. He also made a detailed explanation of the so-called “grand bargain,” a kind of package deal as part of the solution in dealing with the North. “We plan to resolve inter-Korean issues in a smart and flexible way,” President Lee said as he pledged close cooperation with China. 

In relation to the global economic crisis, the two sides complimented the efforts of their respective governments to overcome the ongoing hardship. Hu expressed his support for Korea being the next venue to hold the G20 Financial Summit in 2010, implying improved relations between Korea and China.

“The economic recovery in China is also contributing well to the recovery of the economy of Korea and that of the world,” President Lee said. “If Korea is decided as the next nation to hold the G20 summit, we will prepare for the event in close cooperation with China, as it will be the first time the meeting has taken place in Asia.”

Also present at the meeting that day were Foreign Affairs Minister Yu Myung-hwan, Sa Gong-il, head of the planning committee for the G20, South Korea''s Ambassador to the United Nations Park In-kook and Chinese Vice-premier of the State Council Wang Qishan, among other Korean and Chinese high officials.