President Lee Jae Myung (right) on Aug. 20 talks to Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. (Cheong Wa Dae)
By Xu Aiying
President Lee Jae Myung on Aug. 20 hosted talks with visiting Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on the development of bilateral ties and issues on the Korean Peninsula.
President Lee said that since his summits with Chinese President Xi Jinping last year and this year, both sides have made progress toward the full restoration of bilateral ties. The Korean leader also voiced his pleasure over the two governments bolstering horizontal and mutually beneficial cooperation in economy based on political trust, saying the friendship and trust between Koreans and Chinese are growing stronger.
Minister Wang responded by extending President Xi's regards and saying that based on the shared understanding reached through reciprocal state visits by both leaders, bilateral ties have continued stable development.
To sustain such positive momentum and "meaningfully" mark the 35th anniversary of Seoul-Beijing ties next year, he pledged an active role in the steady implementation of follow-up measures reached by Presidents Lee and Xi in each sector.
Minister Wang also said he hoped for Korean support and assistance in China's hosting of this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in November in Shenzhen based on the successful event last year in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, adding that China will ensure smooth preparations for high-level bilateral exchanges in Shenzhen.
President Lee said that since bilateral summits have continued from Gyeongju last year and Beijing in January this year to Shenzhen in November, he hoped to jointly produce tangible results that improve daily life in both countries and boost two-way relations.
The president also urged the Chinese official to maintain close strategic communication with his Korean counterpart Cho Hyun and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac on Seoul-Beijing ties and issues on the Korean Peninsula.
xuaiy@korea.kr
