In a meeting in Seoul on May 26, South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a thorough discussion covering issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's development of nuclear arms and political conditions there, as well as preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Korea. They also exchanged opinions about the development of their bilateral relationship and other forms of cooperation.

Yun said that after Korean President Park Geun-hye's state visit to China in June 2013, their bilateral strategic communications improved significantly, their cooperation on business and trade developed in terms of both quality and quantity, and that their relationship became ever-tighter with a growing exchange of people. The two leaders also said they would make more efforts to open new horizons in their relationship based on previous achievements.



In response, Minister Wang said the countries are closer than ever before, since the beginning of their modern diplomatic relationship in 1992. He hoped that the two nations cooperate even further to improve and make closer their relationship.

They agreed that the upcoming visit of President Xi to Korea will become a historic milestone that will make the two countries' strategic cooperative partnership improve yet again. They also shared the mutual understanding that the visit is very timely, as it will have a positive effect on peace and stability on the peninsula. They agreed to prepare well for President Xi's visit through close discussions in the near future.

The two leaders shared the understanding that they would develop their bilateral relationship ever further based on the framework and direction they declared in their joint statement for a future vision, as agreed between the two nations last year. For that purpose, they decided to hold high-level talks more regularly, more often and faster, and to strengthen their strategic communication channels. They hope to deepen their mutual economic cooperation and act as a driving force in the regional and global economy. They will continue to expand human and cultural exchanges, and strengthen international cooperation to build peace and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula and across Northeast Asia.

In addition, they agreed to expedite the ongoing bilateral free trade negotiations, to reach a quick resolution and to support companies doing business in each other's country.

In relation to that, Yun asked for the central and regional governments' interest and cooperation on issuing working and residential visas for Koreans in China. He also called for support on the transfer of existing Korean-owned factories and the construction of new factories so that the two countries' relationship could develop further.

Yun said the two nations need to make an effort to resolve issues that could negatively affect the steady development of their relationship, such as Chinese fishing boats fishing in Korean waters, finalizing the marine boundary between Korea and China, and the deportation of North Korean refugees. He asked for the Chinese government's interest and cooperation on these issues.

The two ministers shared the understanding that North Korea's nuclear weapons activity and its recent political conditions have caused a serious threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the region. They decided to further strengthen their bilateral and multilateral cooperation based on a resolute stance against North Korea's nuclear weapon experiments.

In addition, the two nations agreed that they need to resume meaningful talks to bring an actual denuclearization of North Korea and to prevent the North from enhancing its nuclear arms capability. This will be based on their solid stance against North Korea's nuclear arms development. For that purpose, they intend to make an effort to create the necessary conditions under which that could happen.


Yun said that the Dresden Declaration announced by President Park Geun-hye contains workable ideas to build trust between the two Koreas, secure peace and ultimately lay the foundation for the reunification of the peninsula. He hoped that the North would respond positively. Yun also explained that reunification of the Korean Peninsula would have positive effects on all surrounding countries. In response, Minister Wang highly appreciated South Korea's efforts and reiterated his country's support for a peaceful reunification of the peninsula.

The two ministers also agreed to communicate more closely in dealing with regional and international issues. Yun explained Korea's Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative, devised to systematically resolve regional tension and mutual distrust across Northeast Asia, and detailed its purpose and related plans. Minister Wang reiterated China's support for and cooperation on the initiative.

Minister Yun expressed his hope that China would successfully host the Asia-Pacific European Cooperation summit later this year, while Minister Wang said China would cooperate on Korea's successful hosting of various international events, such as the Asian Games Incheon 2014 and the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The meeting between the two ministers was their fourth so far and the first this year.

By Wi Tack-whan, Limb Jae-un
Korea.net staff writers
whan23@korea.kr