By Aisylu Akhmetzianova
Photos = Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul on May 13 stressed during a visit to China the importance of "both sides, rather than just one side alone, (to) put in their collective efforts."

"Minister Cho also stressed that the two countries should build on the cooperative momentum while carefully managing the challenges that might stand in the way," he was quoted as saying in an English-language news release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul.

He was speaking that day in a bilateral summit with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee, in their first meeting since Minister Cho took office, the ministry said.

Minister Cho's visit to China for a summit was the first by Korea's top diplomat since Kang Kyung-hwa went to Beijing in November 2017.

"Minister Cho emphasized that in order to usher in a new phase of Korea-China cooperation, the two countries should devote more efforts to solidify the basis for sustainable development by fostering mutual trust rather than solely focusing on the speed and volume of the development of the bilateral relationship," the ministry said.

"Minister Cho stated that the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries should continue to be developed based on mutual respect, reciprocity and shared interests."

Minister Cho also invited his Chinese counterpart to visit Korea.

"Minister Wang expressed his desire to see Minister Cho's visit to China lead to further revitalized high-level exchanges between the two countries, and responded that he will visit Korea at a mutually convenient time," the ministry added.

Both sides agreed on "a considerable scope for broadening bilateral economic cooperation, which has been a significant driving force for both countries' development over the past 30 years," adding that they "agreed to closely communicate with each other in order to sustain and strengthen economic cooperation, such as the stable management of supply chains."

Seoul and Beijing also pledged to work together to ensure the former's successful hosting of the ninth trilateral summit of foreign ministers from Korea, Japan and China from May 26-27.

Over dinner after their talks, both ministers discussed matters of mutual interest like overall bilateral ties, high-level exchange and economic cooperation, issues related to North Korea and its nuclear program, and regional and global matters.

aisylu@korea.kr