President Park Geun-hye met with Chinese Minister of Defense Chang Wanquan on February 4 to discuss relations between Korea and China, the current status on the Korean Peninsula and the necessity for a peaceful reunification of Korea.

President Park welcomed the visit by Minister Chang, known to be an outstanding field commander and an expert in mainland China's space development program. She hoped that the first visit in nine years by a Chinese minister of defense would strengthen strategic communication between the defense authorities of the two nations and enhance defense exchanges and cooperation.

President Park also said that Korea is preparing for inter-Korean talks and is seeking reunification this year, as it marks the 70th anniversary of both liberation and division. She asked for continued support and interest from China and from the broader international community.


Minister Chang delivered warm greetings and best wishes to President Park from Chinese President Xi Jinping. He went on to say that his visit is part of efforts to make more substantial the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership that exists between the two nations, as agreed upon by the two heads of state, and to strengthen communication and mutual trust between the defense authorities of the two countries.

The Chinese defense minister said that the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership that exists between Korea and China has progressed through frequent exchanges between senior officials and that that has made it possible for the two countries to maintain a close partnership and exchange their views about topics of mutual interest. He also said that the two nations have already seen 10 million people-to-people exchanges last year, a goal the two leaders didn't plan to accomplish until 2016. The two nations are, he added, working closely together to hit the trade volume of USD 300 billion.

President Park mentioned that North Korea has turned down the South's repeated offers for inter-Korean dialogue and exchange, and that the South is still waiting for the North to come to the table.

President Park emphasized again that the South will strive to establish a substantive and concrete foundation for reunification within the year, and that the reunification of the Korean Peninsula will cut security expenses and make a contribution to the development of Northeast Asia, stressing the importance of cooperation between Korea and China.

Regarding her remarks, Minister Chang gave a positive evaluation about offers by the two Koreas toward each other, and vowed to join forces with the South for the achievement of peaceful reunification. He also hoped that the six-party talks would resume as early as possible in the interests of peace on the peninsula and of a resolution to the North's nuclear weapons situation.

President Park proceeded to mention that the 437 remains of Chinese soldiers returned last March drew great interest in the Korean media and that the formal handing-over ceremony helped bring forward the two countries' bilateral friendship, adding that an additional 68 remains will be returned this year. She also said that plans are underway to set up a direct phone line between the defense ministries in Seoul and Beijing and that she looks forward to it being set up promptly.

The Chinese defense minister expressed his gratitude for the care and support that President Park showed concerning the repatriation of the remains. He said he would push for the establishment of a phone line between the two nations' defense ministries in order to improve strategic communication.

Minister Chang also said that President Park has been praised by neighboring countries across the region for her continued efforts at building trust between South and North Korea, and that China would work together to bring peace and security to the Korean Peninsula.

Finally, President Park asked Minister Chang to relay her warm greetings to President Xi Jinping. In return, the Chinese defense minister wished Korea and the Korean people prosperity and success as they celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year.

By Lee Seung-ah
Photo: Cheong Wa Dae
Korea.net Staff Writer
slee27@korea.kr