(2nd LD) Chinese FM Wang Yi to visit S. Korea this week: foreign ministry

Seoul's foreign ministry announced on Tuesday that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be visiting South Korea this week, marking the first such visit in five years. The two-day tour, set to begin on Wednesday, will focus on discussing various areas of mutual concern, including bilateral relations, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, regional and international issues.

During the visit, Wang and his South Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, will hold one-on-one meetings and a dinner banquet, followed by further talks on Seoul-Beijing relations and regional security. Additionally, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac will meet with Wang separately to discuss security concerns on the Korean Peninsula and other international matters.

President Lee Jae Myung recently proposed multiparty talks to explore a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War, aiming to improve inter-Korean relations and prevent conflict with the North. The visit also comes after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reduction of combined military exercises with South Korea, signaling a shift in the U.S.'s approach towards North Korea.

Wang's trip, which is his first in five years, will allow South Korea to advance its peace efforts by encouraging China to play a constructive role in addressing North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.