PM calls for taking bilateral exchanges to next level in talks with China's premier

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Qiang ahead of their meeting in Dalian, China, Tuesday. Courtesy of Prime Minister's Secretariat

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok called Tuesday for elevating bilateral exchanges with China in areas across politics, the economy, culture and youth, as he held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Kim made the call during his meeting with Li in the Chinese city of Dalian, where he was visiting to attend the World Economic Forum, also known as the Summer Davos Forum.

"South Korea and China need to take our bilateral exchanges to the next level, in politics, the economy, culture and youth cooperation," Kim said in the opening remarks.

"Building on the previous summit between our leaders, today's meeting is highly meaningful as a bridge toward sustained political engagement in the future," he said.

"I'm confident that (this meeting) will provide an opportunity to strengthen our strategic cooperative partnership as it enters a new stage," Kim added.

Noting that China is set to host this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, Kim said he hopes for a successful hosting of the multilateral gathering that would "serve as an exemplar" for the international community.

South Korea hosted last year's APEC summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.

Li, in turn, said China is willing to further build trust with South Korea, and expand the scope and depth of bilateral cooperation under the strategic leadership of the two countries' leaders.

"Through that, we hope to advance the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership in a positive and stable manner, and achieve regional prosperity and stability," Li said.

Tuesday's meeting marked the first prime minister-level talks between the two neighbors since 2019.