Vice FMs of S. Korea, China to hold 1st strategic talks in over 2 yrs next week

President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang during a joint press briefing of the ninth trilateral summit at the former presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, May 27. Yonhap

Vice foreign ministers of South Korea and China will hold their first high-level strategic talks in more than two years next week to discuss bilateral cooperation on regional and global issues, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday.

First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun and his Chinese counterpart, Ma Zhaoxu, will hold the meeting, the 10th of its kind, in Seoul on Wednesday, the ministry said. The last such meeting was held via video links in December 2021.

The talks come amid growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia following Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to Pyongyang last month for summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The ministry said next week's discussions are expected to cover a wide range of issues, including peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula, regional and global security situations and ways to enhance bilateral relations.

The talks follow the agreement to reactivate diplomatic and security communication channels between the two countries after President Yoon Suk Yeol had a one-on-one meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of their trilateral summit with Japan in May.

The latest move is seen as a reflection of China's intention to maintain strategic cooperation with South Korea, especially in light of North Korea and Russia's increasing military alliance and comprehensive cooperation. (Yonhap)