Jang Ha-sung, Ambassador to China, "The Biggest Concern is the Change in US-China Relations"

Next Year Marks 30th Anniversary of Korea-China Diplomatic Relations, "We Will Establish a Foundation Comparable to the Second Diplomatic Establishment"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Jang Ha-sung, Ambassador to China, stated that this year will be a very important year for Korea-China relations.

At a regular briefing held at the Embassy of Korea in China on the 25th, Ambassador Jang said, "The biggest concern is how the US-China relationship will unfold," adding, "With the inauguration of US President Joe Biden, there will be changes in US-China relations, and we need to continuously monitor this."

Ambassador Jang also said that this year will be an important year for bilateral relations between Korea and China.

He said, "This year and next year have been designated as the Year of Korea-China Cultural Exchange, and official events are planned," adding, "Next year marks the 30th anniversary of Korea-China diplomatic relations, so this year is also a preparatory period to establish the framework in advance."

Ambassador Jang continued, "We aim to create a foundation for Korea-China relations comparable to a second establishment of diplomatic ties on the occasion of the 30th anniversary," and introduced, "We hope it will be a turning point to create a stepping stone for the leap forward of Korea-China relations, and we plan to carry out various activities to solidify this foundation this year."

He also said, "From the embassy's perspective, we are closely observing how the US-China relationship will change and listening to the opinions of experts within China," adding, "How to resolve Korea-US relations and the North Korean denuclearization issue are also very important starting points for future geopolitical changes."

The diplomatic authorities have also decided to promote Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Korea.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained the plan for President Xi's visit this year, saying, "We are making efforts to realize President Xi's visit to Korea as soon as the COVID-19 situation stabilizes and conditions are met," and added, "President Xi's visit remains an important issue, and we are continuously communicating with China."