Wang Yi Holds Virtual Meeting with ROK's New Foreign Minister Park Jin

On May 16, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a virtual meeting with new Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Park Jin.

Wang Yi said, close neighbors are better than distant relatives. China and the ROK are close neighbors and inseparable partners. China always views the ROK and China-ROK relations from a strategic and overall perspective. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 30 years ago, bilateral relations have gone through a lot and achieved leapfrog development, bringing benefits to the two peoples and contributing to the stability and prosperity in the region. Successive governments and all parties in the ROK have made efforts to this end, and the experience is worth cherishing and carrying forward. First, stay committed to mutual respect. China and the ROK have always respected each other's development path, core interests and cultural traditions and customs. As close neighbors facing each other across the waters, we should bear in mind that mutual respect is the right way for neighbors to get along. Second, stay committed to win-win cooperation. In the past 30 years, the trade volume between China and the ROK has increased by more than 50 times, and mutual investment has exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars. The two sides have achieved common development and prosperity through pragmatic cooperation featuring equality and mutual benefit. Third, stay committed to safeguarding peace. Thanks to the efforts of all parties, the Korean Peninsula enjoys overall peace, providing a necessary environment for the development of the two countries and the region. Fourth, stay committed to openness and inclusiveness. Thirty years ago, the two countries got rid of the shackles of the Cold War and opened a new chapter of cooperation. Today, it serves the fundamental interests of China and the ROK to keep the region open and inclusive, guard against the risk of a new Cold War, and oppose bloc confrontation. A Korean saying goes, "A gentleman pursues great cause". President Yoon Suk-yeol hopes that both sides will open a new era of ROK-China relations based on the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. China welcomes this. Standing at a new starting point, we should ensure the right direction and usher in a new three decades of greater development of China-ROK relations.

Wang Yi put forward "four enhancements" for China-ROK relations in the next stage.

First, enhance communication and coordination, and cement the foundation of mutual trust. We should give full play to the role of head-of-state diplomacy in steering relations, make good use of dialogue mechanisms at all levels, maintain smooth and high-quality political and diplomatic communication, enhance understanding, promote cooperation and manage differences. Second, enhance mutually beneficial cooperation and work together for development and revitalization. China's huge market will provide a steady stream of power for the ROK's long-term development. With respective strengths in the fields of digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy, the two sides can cooperate to achieve the positive effect of "one plus one is greater than two". We should proceed from our respective and common interests, oppose the negative tendency of "decoupling" and "cutting off chains", and maintain the stability and smoothness of the global industrial and supply chains. Third, enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges and promote people-to-people bonds. We should take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the China-ROK Year of Cultural Exchanges as opportunities to carry out varied cultural and people-to-people exchanges, send positive messages to the outside world, and guide the people of the two countries, especially young people, to enhance friendship and reduce misunderstandings. Fourth, enhance international cooperation and maintain regional stability. China is glad to see the ROK play a more constructive role in promoting world peace and prosperity, and is ready to work with the ROK to safeguard the common interests of the two countries, Asia and emerging markets, and inject stability and certainty into an age of instability and transformation.

Park Jin said, after President Yoon Suk-yeol was elected, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message at the earliest opportunity, had a phone conversation with him soon afterward, and then appointed Vice President Wang Qishan as a special representative to attend the inauguration ceremony of the president. The new ROK government expressed its heartfelt thanks for this. The ROK attaches great importance to developing relations with China and is ready to establish sounder and more mature bilateral relations with China based on the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. The ROK always adheres to the one-China principle. The ROK hopes to take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as a new starting point to maintain high-level exchanges, deepen economic and trade cooperation, promote people-to-people exchanges, and elevate ROK-China relations to new heights. The ROK appreciates and expects China to continue to play an important and constructive role on the Korean Peninsula issue.

The two sides also exchanged views on the new changes on the Korean Peninsula and international issues of common concern.