Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits Korea and holds talks between Korean and Chinese foreign ministers

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Dong-hyun and Kim Ji-heon = The Chinese diplomatic chief who visited Korea confirmed China's position to play a constructive role for peace on the Korean Peninsula, but expressed a cautious stance on mediating dialogue between the leaders of North Korea and the United States.

Wang Yi, director of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Foreign Affairs Office and foreign minister, met with reporters after a meeting with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on the 19th and said, "It is a decision between North Korea and the United States, and in particular, the United States must change its long-maintained hostile policy toward North Korea."

This is interpreted as presenting China's existing position that the United States should take a preemptive appeasement gesture while keeping its distance rather than directly intervening in the negotiations between the United States and the United States.

Regarding the current Korea-China relationship, Director Wang said, "Since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, it has entered a trajectory of improvement and development, which is in line with the interests of both countries and the wishes of the people of both countries."

“China is the largest market in the world today, and Korea is right next to us,” he said, adding, “Strengthening cooperation between Korea and China is also beneficial to Korea’s development.”

In addition, regarding the tendency of the US Donald Trump administration to evaluate the Lee Jae-myung government as 'pro-China', he said, "The Lee Jae-myung government is a government that protects Korea's interests, and friendly cooperation with China is in (Korea's) national interest."

The two ministers, who met again on this day 11 months after the meeting held in Beijing in September last year, exchanged in-depth opinions on issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relations between Korea and China, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and regional and international issues.

In his closing remarks at the meeting, Minister Cho said, "I hope that the results of the restoration of Korea-China relations will contribute to peace and stability in the region, including the Korean Peninsula. As President Lee Jae-myung recently presented a blueprint for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula through a congratulatory speech on Liberation Day, the Korean government will work to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and realize peace."

He continued, “I look forward to cooperating with China based on the common interests of Korea and China in achieving peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and I look forward to having an honest and in-depth conversation with Director Wang Yi today.”

Minister Cho also expressed condolences over the death of former Chinese State Council Premier Zhu Rongji.

In response, Director Wang said, "As the most important neighboring country on the Korean Peninsula, China will continue to play a constructive role for peace, development, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," and "We will make the efforts we deserve."

“We also hope that the two countries, South Korea and North Korea, can gradually pursue opportunities for peace and coexistence, and we sincerely hope that the Korean Peninsula will achieve continued stability and development,” he said.

Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Minister Cho is expected to have explained to Director Wang the plan for multilateral discussions proposed by President Lee Jae-myung to end the war and requested China to play a constructive role for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and multilateral dialogue with North Korea.

In particular, as President Trump sends dialogue messages to North Korea every day and foreign media reports that he is pushing for a North Korea-US summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Shenzhen, China in November, the role of China, which can exert significant influence on North Korea, is attracting attention.

Minister Cho is expected to have asked Director Wang to cooperate so that the Korean Peninsula issue can be positively discussed between the leaders of the United States and China, as Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the United States in September.

This meeting is also meaningful as an opportunity to review the follow-up business results of the last Korea-China summit and to look at the expected agenda for the next Korea-China summit that may be held following the Shenzhen APEC summit.

In particular, as next year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China, it is expected that there will be intensive discussions on using this as a stepping stone to improve and strengthen the relationship between the two countries, which have declared 'comprehensive restoration'.

The meeting was scheduled for 6 p.m., but Director Wang arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building at 6:16 p.m.

Although it is not uncommon for the meeting schedule to be somewhat delayed like this, Director Wang has previously been criticized for being late for major diplomatic events with other countries, including the Korea-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

After the meeting, the two ministers moved to their seats and continued their conversation over dinner.

Director Wang's solo visit to Korea is approximately 5 years since September 2021.

Director Wang plans to pay a courtesy call on President Lee Jae-myung at the Blue House on the 20th and have a meeting and lunch with National Security Office Director Wi Sung-rak.