The parliaments of South Korea and China are pushing to issue a joint statement marking the end of World War II, a diplomatic source in Beijing said Friday.

The move came as the two countries prepare to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of Korea's independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.

The consensus on a joint statement was reached in a meeting between South Korean parliamentary speaker Chung Eui-hwa and Zhang Dejiang, the ruling Communist Party's No. 3 leader, who heads the Chinese parliament, in December in Beijing.

If realized, it would be the first time that the parliaments of the two nations issue a joint statement, according to the source.

Details of the joint statement, including its content and when it would be issued, have not been fixed but could be discussed on June 11-13, when Zhang is scheduled to visit South Korea, the source said on the condition of anonymity.

In Seoul, parliamentary sources said the statement would call for, among other things, joint efforts to bring lasting peace to Northeast Asia, where tension persists over territorial and other history-related issues.

Tension also remains high in the region due to North Korea's missile and nuclear programs.

South Korea's parliament is also pushing for a similar statement with the U.S. Congress. (Yonhap)