The Republic of Korea's President Moon Jae-in speaks during his New Year press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, Jan 14, 2020. (KIM HONG-JI / POOL PHOTO VIA AP)

SEOUL - China's role has been and will be very significant in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and building a permanent peace on the peninsula, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Moon Jae-in said on Tuesday.

Moon said his country will continue to cooperate with China until the Korean Peninsula is completely denuclearized and lasting peace is built on the peninsula

Moon made the remarks in his televised New Year's press conference at the presidential Blue House, saying "China's role is very significant" in resolving issues on the peninsula's denuclearization.

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"Actually, China has provided an awful lot of help until now, and I am grateful (to China) for it," Moon said.

Moon said his country will continue to cooperate with China until the Korean Peninsula is completely denuclearized and lasting peace is built on the peninsula.

He noted that the year 2022 would mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK. He vowed to speed up cooperation with China by seeking to find a common ground between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and the ROK's New Southern and New Northern policies.

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The ROK president initiated the New Southern Policy and the New Northern Policy to expand his country's economic and diplomatic territories beyond Northeast Asia by deepening cooperation with Southeast Asian nations and countries bordering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).