이 대통령, 왕이 만나 “한반도 문제 긴밀한 전략적 소통 이어가달라”

President Yoon Jae-myeong announced on the 20th that a senior official from the Chinese Communist Party's Central Foreign Affairs Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with him in the Blue House to discuss the Korean peninsula issue and maintain close strategic communication with the Korean government. The president met with the senior official on the morning of the 20th at the Blue House.

The president instructed the senior official, "Please continue to maintain close strategic communication with the Chinese side on issues related to South-North Korea relations, including the diplomatic relationship and the Korean peninsula issue," according to the chief spokesman at the Blue House, Yu Jeong. The meeting between the president and the senior official came amid Donald Trump, the US president, sending a symbolic gesture to North Korea the day after.

This meeting drew attention, as the president had proposed a trilateral dialogue for peace discussions on the 15th of last month. The president evaluated the ongoing South-China relations as "making concrete progress since meeting Chinese State Councilor Xi Jinping last year and this year." He expressed his happiness with the strengthening of political trust and economic cooperation between the two countries, as well as the strengthening of mutual trust and goodwill between the two nations' citizens.

The senior official acknowledged the joint recognition of the steady progress of Sino-Korean relations. They also discussed the need for both sides' high-level officials to follow through on the sector-specific subsequent actions agreed upon, in order to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Sino-Korean diplomatic ties in the coming year.

The meeting also touched on the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held in November, with the senior official pledging to prepare thoroughly for the APEC meeting and for successful cooperation between the two countries. The president assured the senior official of their support, expressing his hope for rich outcomes that would benefit the lives of the two nations' citizens.

He emphasized that the meetings between the two presidents, held in Pyeongchang in November last year and Beijing this year, would continue in November in Yanbian, ensuring contributions to the well-being of their citizens and further strengthening of Sino-Korean relations. The senior official met with the vice-chief of the Department of Foreign Affairs in his capacity as a deputy to the Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Chinese Foreign Minister.

They exchanged extensive views on the development of Sino-Korean relations, the situation on the Korean peninsula, and regional and international issues. The vice-chief of the Department of Foreign Affairs highlighted the government's efforts to advance peace and coexistence on the Korean peninsula and its commitment to a step-by-step, practical approach to denuclearization.

The senior official expressed his commitment to continue working for the peaceful and stable development of the Korean peninsula. The meeting marked the restoration of the dialogue channel between the department of foreign affairs and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the fifth time in five years. Both sides agreed to maintain regular dialogue and maintain close communication on matters related to the Korean peninsula.

The senior official invited the vice-chief of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the vice-chief accepted, agreeing to coordinate the timing of the Chinese visit.