Consultations on North Korea Issue Between South Korea and China to be Held Today

[Financial News] Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will visit Beijing, China, for the first time since taking office to hold a South Korea-China Foreign Ministers' meeting on the 17th. Cho's first foreign engagement after completing his visit to the U.S. to resolve the issue of the release of 316 Korean workers detained at a battery plant in Georgia, USA, is a visit to China. It is expected to be for significant consultations, such as a summit meeting between President Lee Jae-myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Minister Cho Hyun stated at Gimpo Airport before departure that President Xi is expected to visit Korea on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju. Minister Cho said at Gimpo Airport before departure, "I understand that President Xi will visit Korea for the APEC meeting," and "we will discuss specific details regarding that."
Minister Cho mentioned the agenda of the foreign ministers' meeting, saying, "How to develop the cooperative relationship between South Korea and China, how to ease tensions in Northeast Asia," and "since Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, recently visited China, we plan to discuss that and also consult on the North Korean issue between South Korea and China."
Regarding China's omission of mentioning denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during Chairman Kim's visit to China, Minister Cho said, "Our government has been urging China to play a constructive role on the North Korean issue," and "we plan to request China to play a role in that direction this time as well."
Minister Cho commented on the structures China is installing in the West Sea without permission, saying, "Neighboring countries should get along well, but if there are undesirable issues, they should be clearly pointed out," and "we will raise the issue and seek a prompt solution." He emphasized, "China is a very important neighbor to us," and "we will explore the developmental direction of South Korea-China relations and discuss current issues."
Minister Cho is scheduled to hold a South Korea-China Foreign Ministers' meeting with Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China and Foreign Minister, and have dinner together, returning on the 18th.
The Lee Jae-myung administration has been working on improving relations between South Korea and China after completing the South Korea-Japan summit and the South Korea-U.S. summit. Recently, the Lee Jae-myung administration has been accelerating diplomatic normalization with China, such as appointing Noh Jae-heon, the eldest son of former President Roh Tae-woo and Chairman of the East Asia Cultural Center Foundation, as the first ambassador to China. rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter



rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter