Seoul: South Korea and China have engaged in discussions regarding cooperation on the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and other bilateral issues, including China's construction of steel structures in the Yellow Sea's overlapping maritime zone, according to Seoul officials.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the working-level dialogue occurred on Tuesday, led by Kang Young-shin, director general for Northeast and Central Asian affairs at South Korea's foreign ministry, and Liu Jinsong, director general for Asian affairs at China's foreign ministry. Both nations agreed to maintain communication at various levels and build a shared understanding to further develop bilateral relations in anticipation of the APEC summit. China is also scheduled to host next year's APEC gathering.
In the context of the APEC summit, they discussed the potential visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to South Korea for the event, which is set to take place in Gyeongju between late October and early November. Additionally, China reportedly inquired about South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's attendance at a key military parade in September, commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory over Japanese aggression during World War II. Beijing is exploring this possibility through diplomatic channels with Seoul, with a Seoul official stating that the matter is under review, considering "various circumstances."
The dialogue also focused on expanding cooperation in economic initiatives that could benefit both nations, as mentioned in a foreign ministry press release. Discussions included issues related to the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula. The ongoing dispute over Beijing's construction of steel towers in the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ), an overlapping sea zone between the countries, was addressed, with Seoul expressing concerns over Beijing's unilateral actions not agreed upon in the bilateral PMZ agreement aimed at ensuring maritime stability.
Kang and Liu likely discussed the increasing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Liu also met with Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won for a courtesy call, where they discussed advancing the strategic cooperation partnership between Seoul and Beijing in a "mature and forward-looking" manner, as noted by the ministry.