China's No. 2 leader Li Peng departed Seoul on Sunday, wrapping up his five-day visit from Wednesday.

During his visit, the chairman of the standing committee of the China's National People's Congress met with President Kim
Dae-jung, his South Korean counterpart Lee Man-sup and Prime
Ministe Lee Han-dong to discuss ways to further enhance bilateral
cooperation.

He also met the major opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang and the
ruling coalition partner leader Kim Jong-pil to exchange views on inter-Korean relations and other common concerns.

Li expressed his country's firm support for the Seoul government's engagement policy toward North Korea, stressing joint efforts in coping with the ongoing diplomatic controversy surrounding the distorted Japanese history textbooks.