Wang Yi Holds Talks with ROK Foreign Minister Cho Hyun
On August 19, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Cho Hyun in Seoul.
Wang Yi stated that China and the ROK are separated by a stretch of water. It is only natural for the two sides to maintain frequent exchanges, enhance mutual trust and deepen cooperation. Since the end of last year, President Xi Jinping and President Lee Jae Myung have paid successful visits to each other’s countries, reaching important common understandings on the future development of bilateral relations and providing strategic guidance for the relationship. China-ROK relations are steadily improving and developing in the direction charted by the two heads of state. The world today is undergoing major changes unseen in a century, and in particular since the beginning of this year, the international situation has been turbulent with intensified and spreading local conflicts. This has not only affected the security of global industrial and supply chains, but also has a negative impact on regional peace and stability. As permanent good neighbors and long-term cooperation partners, China and the ROK should demonstrate strategic vision, bear in mind the long-term development of the two countries and the fundamental interests of the two peoples, strive to ensure the sound, stable and sustainable growth of bilateral relations, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and make more contributions to regional peace and development. It is hoped that the ROK will, proceeding from its own fundamental interests, develop its external relations independently and in parallel without conflict. In a few days, China and the ROK will mark the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. China is ready to work with the ROK to stay true to the original aspiration, keep abreast of the times and bring the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership to a new level with new prospects. The two sides should maintain high-level exchanges and ensure the success of events marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, so as to add new substance to China-ROK relations.
Wang Yi noted that China-ROK economic and trade cooperation has a solid foundation and has become a deeply integrated community of shared interests. China’s enormous market offers the ROK the opportunity of “those nearest to the source benefit first.” It is hoped that the two sides will continue to make the pie of cooperation bigger, upgrade traditional production capacity cooperation to higher value-added cooperation, explore new growth points in artificial intelligence, green transition, digital economy, high-end equipment and the silver economy, accelerate the second-phase negotiations of the China-ROK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and deepen the pattern of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. The two sides should continue to promote exchanges in youth, media, sports, think tanks and sub-national affairs, and continuously improve the foundation of public support for bilateral relations. The two sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, uphold regional peace and stability, and work for a more just and equitable global governance system. China is ready to take the opportunity of hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting this year to work with all parties including the ROK to build an Asia-Pacific community, send positive signals to the international community and inject new impetus into peace and development in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.
Cho Hyun stated that the successful mutual visits between the heads of state of the ROK and China have consolidated the momentum of the full recovery of bilateral relations. The ROK has always adhered to the one-China policy upheld since the establishment of diplomatic ties, and looks forward to close high-level exchanges with China to promote the continuous improvement and development of bilateral relations in all areas. The ROK looks forward to taking President Lee Jae Myung’s attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen this November and the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year as opportunities to further intensify high-level exchanges, deepen exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, high technology, artificial intelligence and youth, accelerate the second-phase negotiations of the FTA, enhance people-to-people friendship, strengthen communication and coordination with China on multilateral affairs, and elevate the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level.
The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual concern. Wang Yi, upon request, shared his views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, expounded on China’s consistent and principled position, and stressed that China, as a responsible major country, follows a coherent and stable foreign policy, is always committed to playing a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability on the Peninsula, and is glad to see the two countries, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the ROK, move toward peaceful coexistence, and eventually achieve lasting peace and stability on the Peninsula.
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