FM holds talks with China's top diplomat, urges Xi Jinping to visit Korea

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, left, shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Tuesday, expressing hopes for a visit by President Xi Jinping to Korea later this year and for deeper bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

It was Cho's first official visit to China since taking office — a move widely seen as an effort by Seoul to revitalize diplomatic ties amid a shifting regional landscape.

During the talks, Cho highlighted the significance of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, at the end of next month.

“It is very meaningful that APEC is being hosted in Northeast Asia — Korea this year and will be held in China again next year," he said. "I hope this will serve not only as an opportunity to advance APEC itself but also to deepen Korea–China relations. I look forward to President Xi attending the Gyeongju summit and visiting Korea, which would contribute to the further development of bilateral ties.”

In response, Wang underscored the importance of sustained exchanges between the two neighboring countries.

Wang cited former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug’s visit to China and current Speaker Woo Won-shik’s attendance at China’s Victory Day celebrations earlier this month as examples of exchanges that he said have played a positive role in fostering mutual understanding.

“China and Korea are close neighbors. We need to visit each other often and increase exchanges. This helps deepen understanding, avoid misjudgments, promote mutual trust and expand cooperation,” Wang said.

The Chinese foreign minister also offered his condolences over the recent death of a Korean maritime police officer who died while rescuing a Chinese national, praising his sacrifice. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to advancing the two countries’ “strategic cooperative partnership.”

He was referring to Lee Jae-seok, a 34-year-old Korea Coast Guard sergeant who died while rescuing a Chinese national stranded off the coast of Incheon earlier this month. News of his death prompted an outpouring of tributes from Chinese netizens.