Wang Yi Meets with ROK Foreign Minister Park Jin

On July 7, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Foreign Minister Park Jin of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the Bali Island.

Wang Yi said, the successful phone conversation between the two heads of state ushered in a smooth transition and a good start in bilateral relations. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the ROK. Bilateral relations embrace important opportunities for development and also face some practical challenges. It is in the common interests of both sides to well maintain and develop bilateral relations, otherwise, the two countries will both suffer. This is the successful experience of the continuous development of bilateral relations over the past 30 years. China and ROK are close neighbors and inseparable partners. The two countries are in a security environment where the two peoples rise and fall together, and have formed an industrial cycle of converging interests. The two sides should uphold the already reached consensus and understanding, and maintain the stability and continuity of mutual policies. Both China and the ROK are of the oriental culture, which stresses integrity. Confucius said, "I do not know how a man without truthfulness is to get on." China is willing to work with the ROK to reaffirm the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic ties, focus on mutually beneficial cooperation and remove internal and external interference, so as to maintain the momentum for sound and steady development of bilateral relations.

Park Jin said, the 30th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties is a milestone. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Yoon Suk-yeol on his election as ROK President, held a phone conversation with him, and appointed Vice President Wang Qishan to attend his inauguration ceremony. The ROK side feels the great importance China attaches to bilateral relations. The ROK side believes that mutual respect and trust are crucial to the development of bilateral relations, and will become a partner of equal cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results with China in line with the spirit of "little by little, grains of soil pile up to make a mountain and drops of water converge to form a river", and push for more visible outcomes in bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The two sides held that it is very important to strengthen exchanges and in-depth communication, and agreed in principle to realize the exchange of visits between the two foreign ministers within this year.

The two sides spoke highly of the steady growth of bilateral trade, which is expected to hit a new high. The two sides agreed to speed up the second-phase negotiations on the free trade agreement, open up to each other at a higher level, expand cooperation in high-tech, climate change, ecological conservation and environmental protection, clean energy and other fields, and ensure a stable and smooth supply chain and industrial chain.

Both sides agreed to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, especially among youths, promote mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples, make good use of the green lanes, and resume and increase flights in an orderly manner to facilitate the flow of personnel.

The two sides also exchanged views on the regional security situation and other issues of common concern. Wang Yi stressed that in the face of rampant unilateral acts and deluging power politics and bullying, the international community should uphold humanity's common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, advocate and practice true multilateralism, and safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by the international law. At present, it is particularly important to prevent the resurgence of the Cold War mentality in the region and avoid major power confrontation and bloc politics.