[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Presidential office officials said that instead of sending a condolence delegation to the funeral of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, the government is highly likely to send a condolence message to express its sympathy for the deceased.
A key official from the presidential office told reporters on the afternoon of the 1st, "In diplomatic relations, whether it is a congratulatory or condolence message, we often do not disclose it first," adding, "We expect to be able to share related information at an appropriate time."
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the previous day, "Our government highly appreciates former President Jiang's contributions to the development of Korea-China relations, including the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992," and "We pray for his peaceful rest and extend our condolences to his bereaved family."
Even if the government cannot dispatch an official condolence delegation, attention is focused on the possibility that some individuals may attend the funeral in a personal capacity as part of ongoing efforts to promote cultural and human exchanges between Korea and China.
On the 15th, President Yoon held the first Korea-China summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, reaching a consensus on the importance of expanding civilian exchanges. Around the time the Korea-China summit was being quietly coordinated, signs of increased exchanges between the two countries appeared, such as the resumption of Korean film services on Chinese online video streaming services (OTT).
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