South Korean PM Kim Calls on China to Foster Dialogue on Korean Peninsula

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)

DALIAN/SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Kim Min-seok called Tuesday for China to play a "positive" role in creating conditions for dialogue between the two Koreas, and between North Korea and the United States, as he held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Kim made the remarks during his meeting with Li, which took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, in the Chinese city of Dalian, according to Kim's office.

"(The prime minister) expressed hope that the Chinese leadership, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, would play a role in issues on the Korean Peninsula, as President Xi has recently visited Pyongyang and China has good relations with the North," an official at the prime minister's office said.

Kim also said to Li that resuming dialogue with North Korea is crucial for peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but around the world.

Li responded by showing understanding of Kim's remarks on the need for China's role, the official said.

On industrial cooperation, Kim asked for an early visit by a Chinese delegation for potential investment in South Korea's Saemangeum project in the country's southwest, aimed at turning the reclaimed land into a hub for artificial intelligence, robotics and hydrogen industries.

As part of efforts to boost people-to-people exchanges, Kim told Li that South Korea will extend the temporary visa waiver program for Chinese short-term travelers until December of this year. The policy was initially set to end in late June.

Kim also called for elevating bilateral exchanges with China in areas across politics, the economy, culture and youth.

"Building on the previous summit between our leaders, today's meeting is highly meaningful as a bridge toward sustained political engagement in the future," he said.

"I'm confident that (this meeting) will provide an opportunity to strengthen our strategic cooperative partnership as it enters a new stage," Kim added.

Noting that China is set to host this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, Kim said he hopes for a successful hosting of the multilateral gathering that would "serve as an exemplar" for the international community.

South Korea hosted last year's APEC summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.

Li, in turn, said China is willing to further build trust with South Korea, and expand the scope and depth of bilateral cooperation under the strategic leadership of the two countries' leaders.

"Through that, we hope to advance the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership in a positive and stable manner, and achieve regional prosperity and stability," Li said.

Li also used the talks to highlight the need for the two countries to enhance cooperation in innovative technologies, particularly exploring ways to work together for semiconductor supply chain stability, the Seoul official added.

Tuesday's meeting marked the first prime minister-level talks between the two neighbors since 2019.