South Korea-China Foreign Ministers Hold Talks in Beijing
Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and expressed hope that Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit South Korea on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju at the end of next month, and that relations between South Korea and China would further develop.
On the 17th, during a meeting with Minister Wang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Minister Cho said, "It is very meaningful that APEC will be held in China next year following South Korea this year in the Northeast Asian region," adding, "I hope this will serve as an opportunity not only for the advancement of APEC but also for the development of South Korea-China relations." He continued, "I hope President Xi will attend the Gyeongju summit and that his visit to South Korea will help advance bilateral relations."
In response, Minister Wang stated, "The visit to China by former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeongseok and the attendance of National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik at China's Victory Day event played a positive role in promoting mutual understanding between the two countries." He emphasized, "China and South Korea are close neighbors, and we need to visit each other frequently and engage in extensive exchanges. This will help deepen mutual understanding, avoid misjudgments, enhance mutual trust, and further cooperation."
He also noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II and the founding of the United Nations, and added, "Together with the international community, including South Korea, I hope we will remember history, honor those who came before us, and safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, so that the international order can develop in a fairer and more rational direction."
This is Minister Cho's first visit to China since taking office. He is scheduled to have dinner with Minister Wang following their meeting. The main focus of the discussions is expected to be President Xi's planned visit to South Korea on the occasion of the Gyeongju APEC Summit. Although China has not given a definitive answer yet, it is widely believed that President Xi is highly likely to attend.
Amid concerns that China's stance on "not tolerating North Korea's nuclear weapons" may have shifted, as there was no mention of denuclearization at the North Korea-China summit held during China's Victory Day, it is expected that the North Korean issue will be a major topic of discussion. The structures that China has installed without authorization in the West Sea of South Korea are also expected to be addressed.
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