Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul had a meeting for around 40 minutes with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Friday, July 26, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest, including Korea-China relations and Korean Peninsula issues.

The two sides appreciated that, since the last Korea-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (May 13, Beijing), there have been  active high-level exchanges between Korea and China, including the Korea-Japan-China Trilateral Summit (May 27) and the meeting between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Premier Li Qiang (May 26) held on the occasion of the Trilateral Summit, the Korea-China Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (June 18), and the Vice Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue (July 24). Minister Wang expressed his wish to continue to closely communicate in various forms such as telephone conversations, as Minister Cho’s visit to China in May provided an impetus for new momentum in Korea-China relations. The two sides agreed to continue fostering mutual trust as the two countries maintain the momentum of exchanges and cooperation on various levels including high-level exchanges.

The two ministers agreed to facilitate concrete projects for mutually beneficial substantive cooperation and for the promotion of positive sentiments between the peoples of the two countries, based on the agreements reached during the recent high-level exchanges. Minister Cho welcomed the Korean youth’s visit to China planned for next month (August 19-24), which marks the resumption of the bilateral youth exchange program in 5 years, and asked for the Chinese government’s active support to ensure a successful event that brings the youths of the two countries closer to each other. The two sides also agreed to gradually resume various exchange and cooperation projects led by the foreign ministries of both countries, which have temporarily been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister Cho expressed grave concerns about North Korea escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region by concluding the “Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” and strengthening military and economic cooperation with Russia, while continuing various forms of provocations. Minister Cho called on China to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. In response, Minister Wang reaffirmed that China’s policy regarding the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged and that China will play a constructive role in resolving Korean Peninsula issues. The two sides agreed on the importance of continuing close strategic communication between the two countries in order to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, Minister Cho requested the Chinese government’s special attention and cooperation regarding the North Korean defectors issue.

Minister Cho and Minister Wang had the first telephone conversation (February 6) after Minister Cho took office this year, and the first meeting (May 13) on the occasion of Minister Cho’s visit to China. This second meeting between the two Ministers, held on the sidelines of the multilateral meeting about two months after the first meeting, holds significance as it continues high-level strategic communication between the two countries.