(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-27 20:34

BEIJING - China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have agreed to upgrade their "comprehensive and cooperative partnership" to "strategic cooperative partnership," according to Chinese president Hu Jintao and his ROK counterpart Lee Myung-bak here on Tuesday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) and visiting South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak review the honour guard during a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People at Tiananmen Square in Beijing May 27, 2008. [Agencies]

The two leaders jointly met with the press after their talks.

China and the ROK have reached agreement that Chinese President Hu Jintao will visit the ROK at a "convenient time" for both sides in the second half of this year.

Lee told the press that he will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games this August.