SOUTH Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang agreed to launch a diplomatic and security dialogue. They also agreed to resume talks on a free trade agreement, according to Yoon’s office.
Yoon and Li met before a three-way summit with Fumio Kishida, the first in over four years.
Yoon told Li that the two countries should work together not only to promote shared interests based on mutual respect, but also on regional and global issues to tackle common challenges, citing the Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas conflict and global economic uncertainties.
“Just as (South) Korea and China have overcome various difficulties together over the past 30 years and contributed to each other’s development and growth, I hope to continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation even in the face of today’s global complex crises,” Yoon said at the start of the meeting, according to his office.
Xinhua reported Li urging Yoon to prevent economic issues from becoming political and to stabilize supply chains.
In recent years, Chinese leaders and diplomats have frequently condemned the US and its allies over export controls targeting its semiconductor industry by calling on these countries to stop “overstretching the concept of national security”.
Li expressed hopes for continuing efforts to “build consensus and resolve differences” through “equal dialogue and sincere communications”.
Through this dialogue, South Korea and China aim to discuss key issues affecting their relationship and explore avenues for collaboration.
Moreover, the establishment of diplomatic and security dialogue between South Korea and China underscores the importance of maintaining stability in the East Asian region.
read more
image source
