51-Minute Korea-China Summit... Focus on 'Security and Economic' Cooperation Talks

Yoon Holds Korea-China Summit with Premier Li Chang... Highest-Level Face-to-Face Meeting in Ten Months
Possibility of Calling for International Unity on North Korean Denuclearization
Expected Expression of Concern over North Korea-Russia Summit... Cooperation Among Korea, Japan, and China

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is visiting Indonesia to attend the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit, held a Korea-China summit with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the 7th (local time). Premier Li Qiang is the highest-ranking Chinese official to meet face-to-face with President Yoon in 10 months since his meeting with President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, last November.

According to the Blue House, President Yoon held a 51-minute meeting with Premier Li Qiang in downtown Jakarta starting at 3:25 p.m. that day. It is expected that President Yoon discussed international concerns over the North Korea-Russia summit as well as preliminary talks on holding a Korea-Japan-China summit within the year.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is holding a Korea-China meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Indonesia on the 7th (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On this day, as Premier Li Qiang entered the meeting room, President Yoon greeted him in English, saying, "Welcome, Prime Minister." Premier Li also responded in English, saying, "Nice to see you again."

Although President Yoon met Premier Li Qiang for the first time at the ASEAN+3 (Korea-Japan-China) summit held the previous day, it is highly likely that he conveyed various opinions during the meeting. One representative issue is the international community's unity for North Korea's denuclearization. At the ASEAN+3 summit, President Yoon requested, "I ask for your attention and cooperation in joint efforts to block the dispatch of overseas workers and illegal cyber activities, which are major sources of funding for North Korea's nuclear and missile development."

The uncomfortable variable of the North Korea-Russia summit was also raised as a topic of discussion. Since North Korea and Russia appear to be strengthening military cooperation, it is an opportunity to pressure China under the pretext of peace in the Indo-Pacific region. The Blue House issued a warning regarding the North Korea-Russia summit, stating, "Including the United States, South Korea has been watching this issue carefully and proactively for a long time without speaking out." It is interpreted that if North Korea joins hands with Russia to escalate nuclear and missile provocations, South Korea will respond jointly based on the strengthened South Korea-U.S. alliance, including the nuclear group.

The cooperative foundation of the Korea-Japan-China summit cannot be overlooked either. After President Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to improve bilateral relations, the possibility of holding a trilateral summit has increased. Recently, the three countries have also reached a consensus to reactivate high-level consultative bodies. Moreover, President Yoon, who must also consider the domestic economic situation, cannot afford to sever economic cooperation ties with China, South Korea's largest trading partner.

However, the diplomatic stance of the Yoon administration toward China has become even clearer as different from the previous administration. At the ASEAN+3 summit the day before, President Yoon said, "We intend to closely communicate with the Japanese and Chinese governments to resume trilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the Korea-Japan-China summit, as soon as possible." He mentioned the countries in the order of "Korea-Japan-China," not the usual "Korea-China-Japan" commonly used by Koreans. This is interpreted as emphasizing that starting with improving Korea-Japan relations and institutionalizing Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation, closer cooperation with the U.S. and Japan based on shared values and freedom is being realized under President Yoon.

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