Ties with ROK have reached a new level

The deep strategic mutual trust China and the ROK have built has not only made it easier for them to resolve discord and agree on some issues, it will also help stabilize the situation on the Korean Peninsula. China has always regarded the Korean Peninsula as an integral entity and is willing to contribute to its stability, for which both the strategic partnership with the ROK and maintenance of traditional friendship with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are necessary.

The exchange of high-level officials' visits between the DPRK and ROK in recent months has boosted prospects of reunification of the Peninsula. In this context, China's improving relations with the ROK will promote and forge rather than hamper its ties with the DPRK. And since China sticks to its stance that the Peninsula should be nuclear free and the DPRK and the ROK should use dialogue to resolve disputes and improve ties, its effort to strengthen relations with the ROK will only make its policy toward the Peninsula more pragmatic and balanced.

Despite the possibility of a large-scale war without intervention from outside powers being slim, the situation on Korean Peninsula is still precarious, especially when the US and the ROK hold joint large-scale military drills. Given this, China's efforts to strengthen ties with the ROK and maintain its traditional friendship with the DPRK will increase the possibility of dealing with a possible crisis and reduce the chances of a military conflict.

The return of the Chinese soldiers' remains by the ROK reflects the maturity in Beijing-Seoul political and military ties. And by continuing to strengthen cooperation, deepen mutual trust and extend pragmatic cooperation to other fields, the two countries can take their relations to even higher levels.

The author is a professor at the National Defense University of the PLA.