China and South Korea Commit to Strengthening Strategic Cooperation and Economic Ties

Beijing, The Gulf Observer: On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul held a phone discussion to reaffirm their countries’ commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and addressing regional and global challenges. The conversation, initiated at the request of Minister Cho, highlighted the mutual importance of the China-South Korea strategic partnership.

Minister Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, underscored China’s willingness to collaborate with South Korea to maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains amid rising trade protectionism and unilateralism. He noted the continuous expansion of trade between the two countries and emphasized the strong foundation and vast potential for further economic and trade cooperation.

China welcomes South Korean enterprises to deepen their participation in the Chinese market and increase investments, Wang said. He highlighted the recent positive momentum in China-South Korea relations, noting that the development aligns with the shared interests of both nations.

Calling for strengthened coordination, Wang encouraged the use of dialogue mechanisms, enhanced exchanges at various levels, and reinforced mutual trust to ensure the stable growth of the strategic cooperative partnership. He also reiterated China’s policy of non-interference in internal affairs, expressing confidence in South Korea’s ability to address domestic issues.

Minister Cho echoed the value of the improving bilateral relations and reiterated South Korea’s commitment to advancing the strategic cooperative partnership. He expressed South Korea’s satisfaction with the growing economic ties and its readiness to build on this progress to yield mutually beneficial outcomes. Cho also stressed the importance of fostering people-to-people exchanges and high-level interactions to further bolster ties.

The ministers agreed on the importance of China-Japan-South Korea trilateral cooperation in contributing to regional peace, stability, and prosperity. They pledged to strengthen collaboration under multilateral frameworks, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Discussions also touched on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Minister Wang reaffirmed China’s position advocating for the resolution of Peninsula issues through dialogue and consultation, emphasizing China’s constructive role in ensuring regional peace and stability.

The phone conversation concluded with both sides expressing a shared vision for continued cooperation and a commitment to achieving meaningful progress in their bilateral and multilateral engagements.