Korea-China Deputy Foreign Ministers' Video Conference: "Further Promoting High-Level Exchanges and Communication"

Acceleration of the Launch of the 'Northeast Asia Quarantine and Health Cooperation Body' Collaboration

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the morning of the 23rd, Choi Jong-geon, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a video conference with Luo Yucheng, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, to discuss mutual interests such as high-level exchanges between South Korea and China and responses to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Both vice ministers agreed on the importance of exchanges between the heads of state and high-level officials in the development of South Korea-China relations and decided to further promote high-level exchanges and communication using various methods, including face-to-face and non-face-to-face interactions, even amid the COVID-19 situation.

They agreed to steadily implement follow-up measures related to the "Year of Korea-China Cultural Exchange (2021-2022)" and the launch of the Korea-China Future Development Committee in preparation for the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, as agreed by the foreign ministers of both countries last month. They also agreed to maintain close communication on issues that could be sensitive to either side.

Furthermore, the vice ministers shared the view on the necessity to continue expanding people-to-people exchanges between the two countries through measures such as maintaining quarantine protocols, expanding fast-track channels, and increasing flights amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed to cooperate closely to this end.

They also exchanged opinions on concrete plans to advance the "Northeast Asia Quarantine and Health Cooperation Body" initiative, which China has expressed support for, and agreed to maintain close communication and cooperation to accelerate the launch of the cooperation body.

Meanwhile, Vice Minister Luo invited Vice Minister Choi to visit China, to which Vice Minister Choi expressed gratitude and responded that they would continue to discuss the specific timing of the visit.

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