(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Ko Dong-wook = President Lee Jae-myung met with Chinese Communist Party Central Political Bureau member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was visiting Korea, on the 20th and gave him instructions regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the relationship between the two countries.
At the meeting with Director Wang at the Blue House this morning, President Lee said, "Since meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last year and this year, we have been making clear results in 'full restoration of Korea-China relations.' I am pleased that the two governments are strengthening horizontal and mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic field based on political trust, and that friendship and trust between the people of the two countries are solidifying."
He then asked, “Please continue close strategic communication with Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun and Director of the National Security Office Wi Sang-rak (Blue House) on Korea-China relations and Korean Peninsula issues.”
In response, Director Wang conveyed President Xi's greetings and said, "The Korea-China relationship is continuing to develop steadily based on the common awareness derived through the mutual state visits between the two leaders." He added, "We will play an active role in steadily implementing the follow-up measures in each field agreed upon by the two leaders so that we can continue this good trend and meaningfully celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year."
At the same time, he said he hopes that the Korean government, which successfully hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju last year, will support and support the APEC Summit in Shenzhen, China in November. He also announced that he would prepare results for high-level exchanges between the two countries in Shenzhen without disruption.
President Lee responded, "As the host country of last year's APEC, I hope that this year's Shenzhen APEC will be held successfully, and I will not spare any support as needed."
He continued, "As the meeting between the leaders of the two countries continues with Gyeongju in November last year, Beijing in January this year, and Shenzhen in November, we hope to produce fruitful results that will contribute to the lives of the people of both countries and to further strengthen Korea-China relations."
In addition, he recalled his meeting with President Xi in January of this year and asked for his special greetings. The Blue House reported that Director Wang also expressed his gratitude to President Lee and the Korean government for their hospitality, saying, “I will do so.”
Following President Lee's meeting, National Security Office Director Wi Sung-rak also had a meeting and lunch with Director Wang and exchanged opinions on ways to develop Korea-China relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
At this event, Director Wi introduced the blueprint for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula that President Lee revealed in his recent Liberation Day celebration speech and explained the step-by-step and pragmatic approach to denuclearization that begins with 'suspension' along with efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea.
At the same time, he requested China's constructive cooperation in the process of pursuing North Korea policy.
In response, Director Wang responded, “China’s policy toward the Korean Peninsula maintains continuity and stability,” and “We will continue to play a constructive role for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”
In addition, the two sides exchanged opinions on the overall recent rapidly changing international situation, and agreed that in a situation where countries in the region are closely connected politically and economically, they should respect each other's positions, cooperate, and expand common ground.
This meeting is significant in that the communication channel between the head of the South Korean National Security Office and the director of the Chinese Central Foreign Affairs Office, which had been suspended since December 2021, was restored for the first time in about five years.
Accordingly, both sides welcomed the resumption of dialogue between high-level diplomacy and security lines and agreed to continue close communication through channels at each level, including operating these channels on a regular basis.
On this day, Director Wang invited Director Wi to visit China, and Director Wi accepted.
