ROK-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan, in China on an official visit, met with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi as well as Wang Jiarui, Chief of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, and paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on March 29. In the meetings, the two sides consulted on matters of mutual concern, including ways to develop the Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership and work together on major regional and global stages, and the situation on the Korean peninsula. In the meetings held in an amicable and candid atmosphere, Minister Kim and the Chinese officials reaffirmed the principle to strengthen strategic communication regarding the situation on the Korean peninsula and to further expand substantive cooperation in economy, trade and culture. In view that the basis of friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries should not be undermined under any circumstances, the two sides reaffirmed the importance of exchanges between high-level officials for continued development of bilateral ties. The Korean delegation proposed President Hu Jintao visit Korea for the Nuclear Security Summit next year as well as a bilateral summit between President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the Korea-China-Japan Summit this coming May. Welcoming Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik’s upcoming visit to China in April, the Chinese side said that they will positively consider visits to Korea by high-ranking officials such as Deputy Prime Ministers Li Keqiang and Wang Qishan. Minister Kim invited his Chinese counterpart Yang to visit Korea once again in the second half of this year to ensure the firm establishment of the annual exchange of visits by the Korean and Chinese Foreign Ministers. Expressing gratitude for the invitation, Minister Yang welcomed the 4th Korea-China High-Level Strategic Dialogue and the visit to China by a Korean youth diplomatic delegation, both scheduled for this year. Minister Kim invited Chief Wang Jiarui to visit Korea at an early date this year, and proposed boosting exchanges between the Korean Foreign Ministry and the International Department of the Communist Party of China. Chief Wang conveyed gratitude and consent in response. The two sides agreed to spare no governmental support to bolster economic and trade cooperation by helping Korean firms increase their presence in the three northeastern provinces and other parts of China. They also agreed to work toward substantial progress in consultations on a potential bilateral FTA. The two delegations agreed to hold and start joint preparations at an early date for a variety of cultural events to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2012 as part of ways to promote friendship as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges. They also agreed to establish their respective consular agencies in Dalian and Jeju at the earliest possible date within the year. The two sides exchanged a wide range of views on the recent inter-Korean relations, North Korean nuclear issue and overall situation on the Korean peninsula. The Chinese delegation took note of the progress in inter-Korean relations, including the resolution of the repatriation issue involving North Koreans who crossed the West Sea border to South Korea on a drifting boat and the meeting between South and North Korean experts on the possible volcanic eruption at Mount Baekdu. Further, the Chinese side reaffirmed its support for inter-Korean talks. With respect to North Korea’s uranium enrichment program, the Korean side spoke of the need for appropriate measures by the Security Council and requested China’s understanding and cooperation. The two sides agreed to continue close consultation in this regard. The Korean delegation touched upon rising concerns over the safety of North Korea’s nuclear facilities, following Japan’s recent nuclear accident, to which the Chinese side responded by proposing that the two sides maintain close communication on North Korea’s nuclear programs. The Korean side requested China’s support for Korea’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and the 18th Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2012. The two sides concurred to work more closely together on Security Council reform and on other regional and global stages. The visit to China by Minister Kim took place under the agreement on the annual exchange of visits between the Korean and Chinese Foreign Ministers. Close consultation between high-level Foreign Ministry officials, including the three meetings between the Foreign Ministers over the last month, is expected to contribute greatly to further developing the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.