On November 26, 2020, local time, South Korean President Moon Jae-in met with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who paid an official visit to South Korea in Seoul.
Wang Yi first conveyed President Xi Jinping’s message to President Moon Jae-in. Wang Yi said that under the guidance of the strategy of the two heads of state, China-South Korea relations have overcome difficulties, eliminated interference, and showed a vigorous development momentum.
In the face of the epidemic, the two countries took the lead in establishing a bilateral joint prevention and control mechanism, took the lead in effectively controlling the epidemic, and took the lead in establishing a “fast channel”, which provided beneficial experience and set up a model of cooperation for countries around the world to unite in the epidemic.
I believe that China-South Korea relations will show a broader development prospect after experiencing the baptism of the epidemic.
Wang Yi said that China is willing to continue to deepen normal epidemic prevention and control cooperation with South Korea, promote the connection between the Belt and Road Initiative and South Korea’s national development strategy, improve the level of bilateral free trade.
strengthen scientific and technological innovation cooperation, and help the economic and social recovery and development of the two countries. The two sides should enhance cultural and sports exchanges between the two countries by holding the “Year of Cultural Exchange between China and South Korea” and cooperate in the hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics and the Gangwon Province Winter Olympics.
China supports South Korea in holding the annual China-Japan-South Korea Leaders’ Meeting. It is willing to work with South Korea to accelerate the promotion of China, Japan and South Korea on the basis of the successful signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
The negotiation process of free trade agreement promotes regional economic integration and strives towards the establishment of an Asia-Pacific free trade area. We should adhere to multilateralism, join hands to participate in the reform of the global governance system, and jointly address global challenges such as climate change.
Moon Jae-in thanked President Xi Jinping for his important message and asked Wang Yi to convey sincere greetings to the Chinese leaders. Moon Jae-in said that South Korea highly praised China’s epidemic prevention and control achievements and believed that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China’s epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development will certainly achieve greater achievements. South Korea and China maintain necessary personnel exchanges while jointly fighting the epidemic, and actively carry out cooperation in the resumption of work and production, demonstrating the strong ties between the two countries and setting an example for the international community to unite in the fight against the epidemic.
South Korea looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in a wide range of fields, promoting regional economic integration, working together to meet global challenges such as climate change, and taking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China as an opportunity to promote the greater development of South Korea-China relations in the next 30 years.
The two sides exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Moon Jae-in spoke highly of China’s active role in the peace process on the peninsula and said that South Korea is willing to work with China to achieve long-term peace and security on the peninsula.
Wang Yi said that no matter how the situation changes, we must adhere to the direction of dialogue to solve the Peninsula issue, adhere to the goal of establishing a peninsula peace mechanism and achieving the denuclearization of the peninsula through stages and synchronization, and adhere to the determination to prevent war and chaos on the peninsula. China is willing to work with all parties, including South Korea, and play a constructive role to this end.
On the same day, Wang Yi also held talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.
The two sides reached a 10-point consensus on promoting bilateral relations and deepening regional cooperation.
