Korea hosts high-level trade talks with China amid political uncertainties
Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo, left, participates in a meeting in Seoul, Dec. 11. Yonhap
Korea's trade ministry hosted a high-level dialogue with China on Thursday to discuss ways to bolster bilateral exchanges, as the government continues efforts to maintain stable ties with key trade partners amid the domestic political turmoil.
Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo met with Li Fei, China's assistant minister of commerce, in Seoul, with the two officials acknowledging that bilateral trade has increased this year despite trade uncertainties, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Korea and China held two rounds of summits this year, with the two countries agreeing to seek a strategic cooperative partnership.
Building on such ties, the two officials agreed to continue enhancing their countries' bilateral exchanges and cooperation in 2025.
Cheong also asked for Beijing's support for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, set to be held in the country's southeastern city of Gyeongju in November 2025.
Korea aims to further strengthen bilateral exchanges, leveraging major events planned for next year, including the trade ministerial meeting involving Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing, the trade minister said.
Thursday's meeting, meanwhile, came amid Seoul's efforts to reach out to major trade partners in the wake of lingering market instability sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration last week.
On Wednesday, Cheong stressed that the Korean government will continue to implement policies to ensure stable economic activities while meeting with his Mexican counterparts.
Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun also met with the governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma on Wednesday, marking his first meeting with a senior foreign official since the botched martial law declaration. (Yonhap)