Chinese FM calls for healthy, sustainable China-South Korea ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday that China and South Korea should demonstrate strategic vision and work to ensure the healthy, stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun.

Wang expressed hope that South Korea, based on its fundamental interests, pursues an independent foreign policy and develops relations with other countries in parallel without conflict.

Wang said that since the end of last year, the top leaders of the two countries have successfully exchanged visits and reached an important consensus on the future development of China-South Korea relations, providing strategic guidance for the bilateral relationship.

Ushering in the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides, Wang said China is ready to work with South Korea to advance the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership to a new level.

He noted that the two sides should maintain high-level exchanges.

China and South Korea have a solid foundation of economic and trade cooperation, and have become a deeply integrated community of shared interests, said Wang, expressing hope that the two sides tap new areas of cooperation and growth in artificial intelligence, green transition, digital economy, high-end equipment and the silver economy, and accelerate the second phase of negotiations on the China-South Korea Free Trade Agreement.

The two sides should continue to promote exchanges in areas such as youth, media, sports, think tanks, and local governments, and work to further strengthen the public support and social foundation for bilateral relations, he said.

Wang said China is ready to take its hosting of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting as an opportunity to work with all parties, including South Korea, to build an Asia-Pacific community, and inject new impetus into peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Cho Hyun said South Korea has consistently upheld the one-China policy it has followed since the establishment of diplomatic relations with China.

He added that South Korea looks forward to maintaining close high-level exchanges with China, deepening exchanges and cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, high technology, artificial intelligence and youth, and accelerating the second phase of negotiations on the South Korea-China Free Trade Agreement, thus advancing the South Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level.