Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Visit South Korea Next Week... Discussions Expected on Korean Peninsula Situation

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Will Announce Detailed Plan Soon... Agree on Importance of High-Level Communication"
First China-South Korea Foreign Ministers Meeting in 5 Months... Wang Yi's Visit to Korea After About 9 Months

Wang Yi Attending Shanghai Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tajikistan

(Dushanbe EPA=Yonhap News) Wang Yi, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister, currently touring Central Asia, attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on the 14th (local time) in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. Following Turkmenistan, Minister Wang will visit Tajikistan and Uzbekistan until the 16th. [Provided by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Redistribution and DB storage prohibited]
leekm@yna.co.kr
(End)


＜Copyright(c) Yonhap News Agency, Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited＞

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Junhyung] Wang Yi, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister in charge of diplomacy, is expected to visit South Korea as early as next week.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 6th that it will soon reveal specific plans related to Wang Yi's visit to South Korea. It is known that the Ministry has been coordinating with the Chinese side for a possible meeting between Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Wang Yi in Seoul as early as next week. A Ministry official stated, "During the Korea-China foreign ministers' call in June this year, both sides agreed on the importance of high-level communication between Korea and China," adding, "We have been closely consulting to maintain continuous exchanges between the foreign ministers."

The Korea-China foreign ministers' meeting will be the first in five months since Minister Chung's visit to Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, in April this year. Wang Yi's visit to South Korea will be the first in about nine months since November last year. Despite the impact of COVID-19, this is seen as a sign of high-level communication ahead of the 30th anniversary of Korea-China diplomatic relations next year.

The upcoming talks are expected to cover ways to strengthen Korea-China relations as well as discussions on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Wang Yi is anticipated to emphasize China's fundamental positions on issues of interest such as Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Discussions for the successful hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics scheduled for February next year are also expected. There is analysis that high-level officials, including President Moon, may be invited to visit China in connection with the Winter Olympics. Since the Beijing Winter Olympics may include participation by the North Korean delegation, the government is also paying attention as it seeks to open dialogue channels with North Korea.

Minister Chung is expected to request China's cooperation for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue. Discussions related to Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to South Korea, which both Korea and China have agreed upon, are also expected to take place.

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