Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister, to Visit Korea from 25th to 27th

First 'In-Person Foreign Ministers Meeting' Since COVID-19 Pandemic Achieved
Focus on Discussing Xi Jinping's Visit to South Korea
Prior Visit to Japan Planned to Coordinate Bilateral Agenda

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, will make an official visit to South Korea for three days and two nights from the 25th to the 27th at the invitation of Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 20th, Foreign Minister Wang will visit South Korea starting on the 25th and hold face-to-face talks with Minister Kang. This visit marks about one year since his last visit in December of last year, and the face-to-face meeting will be the first since the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the talks, Minister Kang and Foreign Minister Wang are expected to exchange in-depth views on mutual interests including COVID-19 response cooperation, high-level exchanges between the two countries, bilateral relations between South Korea and China, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, as well as regional and international issues. In particular, there is a possibility that the schedule for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to South Korea will also be discussed. The South Korea-China foreign ministers’ meeting is expected to take place on the second day of the visit, the 26th.

Minister Kang and Foreign Minister Wang have maintained frequent communication, holding ten foreign ministers’ meetings and three phone calls so far. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "This visit by Foreign Minister Wang is expected to serve as an opportunity to further elevate bilateral relations by maintaining high-level communication between South Korea and China despite the COVID-19 situation."

Earlier, Yang Jiechi, Chinese Politburo member in charge of foreign affairs, met with Suh Hoon, Director of the National Security Office, in Busan at the end of August and agreed to expedite President Xi’s visit to South Korea once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes. Ambassador Xing Haiming of China to South Korea reaffirmed this position during a seminar hosted by the Chinese Embassy on the 18th, stating in a keynote speech and subsequent press interaction, "South Korea has been designated as the first country to visit once COVID-19 stabilizes. That has not changed." However, as South Korea’s COVID-19 situation has worsened again, there are views that President Xi’s visit within this year may be difficult to realize.

Before visiting South Korea, Foreign Minister Wang is also expected to coordinate related agendas with Japan. On this day, Japan’s NHK reported that the minister will visit Japan from the 24th and hold talks with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. This visit follows discussions between Japan and China on scheduling after the Suga Cabinet took office in September, considering political timetables.

NHK reported that the Japanese government plans to confirm the importance of communication for stabilizing China-Japan relations during the talks with Foreign Minister Wang and also intends to convey concerns about China’s maritime expansion. Japan, mindful of China’s increasing presence in the East China Sea and South China Sea, is strengthening cooperation with the United States, Australia, India, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific," and China is showing caution toward these moves.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.