"Exchanging In-Depth Opinions on Economy and Korean Peninsula Situation"
President Yoon Suk-yeol, attending the 31st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, is holding a South Korea-China summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a hotel in Lima, Peru, on the 15th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News
President Yoon Suk-yeol and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a summit meeting for the first time in two years on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
The Blue House announced on the morning of the 15th (local time) in Lima, the capital of Peru, that President Yoon and President Xi Jinping had started their summit meeting.
This summit meeting is the first in two years since their meeting at the G20 summit held in Indonesia in November 2022. The two countries have been expanding exchanges and communication following the Korea-Japan-China summit held in Seoul this May.
Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, said at a briefing in Lima, Peru, the day before, "This meeting will discuss ways to activate economic cooperation, as well as cultural and human exchanges between the two countries," adding, "They will exchange in-depth views on the regional situation, including the Korean Peninsula."
It is especially known that the Chinese authorities have a strong will to improve Korea-China relations. A Blue House official said, "Since May, high-level dialogue channels between Korea and China have begun to be activated," and added, "Recently, the Chinese authorities have shown a strong willingness to actively seek new avenues for Korea-China relations." In diplomatic circles, there are also observations that President Xi may seek to reset relations with U.S. allies amid growing concerns about protectionism with the potential return of Trump to the U.S. presidency and numerous variables in the global situation.
A Blue House official explained, "Amid ongoing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, the European situation, the Indo-Pacific region, and Korea-China relations in Northeast Asia present strategic cooperation goals ahead," adding, "Since challenges must be viewed from new perspectives in all aspects of security and economy, the dialogue between the two leaders will take place on a macro level."
President Yoon Suk-yeol, attending the 31st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, is holding a South Korea-China summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a hotel in Lima, Peru, on the 15th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News
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