China-Korea ties at 'a critical juncture', Wang Yi says amid bid for reset

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, and Park Byeong-seug, special envoy of Korean President Lee Jae-Myung, poses for photos in Beijing, Aug. 24. Joint Press Corps

China's top diplomat urged Seoul to advance relations along "the right track," in talks on Sunday with special envoys of Korean President Lee Jae-myung.

"The relationship between [China and Korea] is at a critical juncture for improvement and development," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the visiting delegation led by former Korean National Assembly speaker Park Byeong-seug.

The meeting on Sunday coincided with the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two neighbours. It is the latest sign of efforts to reset relations with the newly installed leadership in Seoul under Lee after his predecessor Yoon Suk-yeol's geopolitical tilt towards Washington and Tokyo.

Wang noted that Beijing's policy towards Korea maintained stability and continuity, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement on Monday.

"Both sides should ... firmly uphold the direction of friendship, expand common interests, improve sentiment between the two peoples, properly handle sensitive issues, and promote the steady and sustained progress of bilateral relations on the right Koreag told the South Korean envoys.

Park echoed the view, saying Seoul was ready to bring the strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations "back on track" by improving high-level exchanges, practical cooperation and people-to-people ties, according to the Chinese statement.

Handing over a letter from Lee to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Park said the Korean leader once again invited Xi to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in late October, Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

The Apec event, which will take place in the Korean city of Gyeongju, has been widely expected as a potential stage for a long-awaited meeting between Xi and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump.

Park told Wang that Seoul was willing to develop relations with China and other major powers "in parallel" to jointly maintain regional peace and stability, the Chinese statement said.

Since vowing to mend ties with Beijing last month, Lee has also stepped up his "pragmatic diplomacy" campaign, walking a fine line between the country's relations with its largest trading partner and its traditional allies, the United States and Japan.

Korean President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a press conference after departing from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport for Washington, D.C., to attend a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Monday. Yonhap

On the same day his special envoys travelled to Beijing, Lee was wrapping up his trip to Tokyo, the newly installed Korean leader's first overseas visit since assuming the presidency more than two months ago.

Lee became the first Korean president since 1965 — the year the country formally established diplomatic relations with Japan — to not make the U.S. his first overseas visit after assuming office.

After his talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday, the two countries issued a joint statement of summit outcomes for the first time in 17 years, stating that "it is paramount to promote unwavering cooperation between Korea, Japan and the U.S., amid the rapidly changing international situation."

The two Pacific treaty allies of Washington also agreed to cooperate for the China-Japan-Korea summit to be held in Japan this year, although they did not specify a date.

Lee then went to the U.S. on Sunday for a three-day visit. He is scheduled to meet Trump on Monday after their two countries reached a bilateral trade deal in July.

On a trip to the U.S. last month, Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Seoul "has become rather alert to China's rise and its challenges. But ... we want to maintain a good relationship."

In late July, thousands of protesters gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Seoul, denouncing what they saw as the growing influence of China's Communist Party in Korea, leading to "solemn representations" from Beijing.

There were also protests in other cities, with Lee condemning them as crossing the boundary of free speech.

Still, diplomatic ties between Beijing and Seoul have begun to thaw since Lee, widely viewed as a China dove, took office in early June.

"Since the new Korean government took office, China-Korea relations have achieved a good start," the Chinese ambassador to Seoul, Dai Bing, tweeted on Sunday.

Korea announced this month that it would offer visa-free entry to tourist groups from China from September 29 until June next year.

Lee spoke with Xi in a call in June, and Lee was reportedly invited to attend China's military parade in Tiananmen Square on September 3 marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Wang also mentioned the military parade during the meeting with Lee's envoys, calling on Korea to "jointly safeguard the outcomes of the victory of World War II and international fairness and justice."

"China and Korea should also work together to uphold the international system of free trade [and] jointly oppose trade protectionism," he said.

Lee has reportedly decided not to attend the parade next week but will send a delegation of lawmakers led by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik.

Read the story at SCMP.