China and South Korea Discuss Bilateral Ties and North Korea Ahead of Shenzhen APEC Summit
Foreign ministers Wang Yi and Cho Hyun also discussed cooperation in artificial intelligence, biomedicine and other emerging sectors.
China and South Korea Discuss Bilateral Ties and North Korea Ahead of Shenzhen APEC Summit
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his South Korean counterpart Cho Hyun in Beijing on Friday, with the two sides discussing bilateral relations, regional security and the situation on the Korean Peninsula ahead of next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen.
The meeting comes at a sensitive time for Northeast Asian diplomacy, as South Korea seeks to maintain communication with Beijing while encouraging China to play a constructive role in efforts to bring North Korea back to dialogue.
According to Reuters, Wang said China was willing to broaden cooperation with South Korea in traditional areas as well as emerging sectors, including artificial intelligence and biomedicine.
The discussions reflect both countries' interest in maintaining economic and diplomatic engagement despite differences over regional security and their respective relationships with other major powers.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho travelled to China on Friday for talks with Wang. Before departing Seoul, Cho said the two governments planned to discuss the overall state of bilateral relations, including issues requiring coordination ahead of the APEC summit.
The summit, scheduled to take place in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19, is expected to bring together leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is expected to visit China for the gathering, creating an opportunity for further high-level engagement between Seoul and Beijing.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho's visit was also intended to address issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, including the possibility of renewed dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.
Cho has urged Beijing to play a constructive role in encouraging North Korea to return to negotiations. The South Korean government has an interest in maintaining diplomatic channels with Pyongyang, particularly amid uncertainty over the prospects for renewed contact between North Korea and the United States.
The South Korean foreign minister also indicated that the possibility of China actively inviting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the APEC summit did not appear especially high, although he said it was too early to draw a definitive conclusion.
The Korean Peninsula issue remains a significant area of diplomatic coordination between Beijing and Seoul. China has traditionally maintained close political and economic ties with North Korea, while South Korea is a key U.S. security ally in the region.
The two countries also have substantial economic interests in maintaining stable relations. China is one of South Korea's most important trading partners, while South Korean companies have long operated in the Chinese market in sectors including electronics, automobiles, chemicals and consumer goods.
Wang's reference to cooperation in artificial intelligence and biomedicine suggests that both governments are also seeking opportunities in newer industries. However, no specific new commercial agreement or joint initiative was announced in the available accounts of Friday's meeting.
According to The Korea Times, Cho described peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula as a shared interest of South Korea and China. The report cited South Korea's foreign ministry as the source of information on the discussions.
The meeting is part of a wider series of diplomatic contacts taking place before the Shenzhen summit. Regional leaders are expected to use the APEC gathering to discuss economic cooperation, trade, supply chains and broader geopolitical concerns.
For Beijing and Seoul, the immediate challenge will be to strengthen bilateral communication while managing differences over security policy and regional alignments. Friday's meeting provides another channel for dialogue, but the extent to which it produces concrete progress will depend on follow-up discussions and future cooperation.