Regarding the view that the visit was due to US-China conflict, "The world is not only the United States"
South Korea and China: "We must protect multilateralism and free trade... Need to negotiate FTA phase 2"
On the 26th, Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister, visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and greeted Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, before their meeting. Photo by Joint Press Corps
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Wang Yi, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister in charge of diplomacy, who visited Korea, stated that President Xi Jinping's visit to Korea "can take place when conditions are ripe."
On the 26th, immediately after holding the Korea-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, Wang told reporters, "What both sides need to do now is to create the conditions for the visit," adding, "I believe the visit can be realized when the conditions mature."
Korea and China had been pushing for President Xi's visit within the year, but early realization has been difficult due to the spread of COVID-19. Recently, with the worsening domestic COVID-19 situation, a visit within the year also seems unlikely.
Regarding the conditions for President Xi's visit, Wang pointed to the mask he was wearing and reiterated the need for COVID-19 to be controlled. He said, "I appreciate President Moon Jae-in's multiple invitations for President Xi's state visit to Korea," adding, "This shows Korea's high regard for Korea-China relations and its active willingness to deepen the relationship."
Regarding domestic experts interpreting Wang's visit in the context of US-China conflicts, he responded, "The world is not only the United States," saying, "There are 190 countries, all independent and sovereign, including Korea and China. Korea and China are close neighbors who should visit each other like relatives."
He added, "Scholars can make all kinds of speculations, but do you think diplomacy is that simple?" and "Diplomacy should not be conducted like scholars do."
He also reiterated the will to strengthen Korea-China cooperation. Wang said, "We need to cooperate on epidemic prevention, economic and trade cooperation, cooperation to maintain regional stability, cooperation for the peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue, and efforts to uphold multilateralism and free trade," adding, "At this stage, we must promptly proceed with the second phase of the Korea-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, and there are many things to be done between the two countries."
He continued, "Besides Korea and China, we must also consider the international and regional situation," emphasizing, "We can all discuss and deliberate comprehensively, and Korea and China must cooperate comprehensively as strategic cooperative partners."
After the Korea-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Wang is scheduled to move to the Foreign Minister's residence in Hannam-dong for lunch and then pay a courtesy call on President Moon Jae-in in the afternoon. Minister Kang will also attend the visit to President Moon.
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