Photo:Ministry of Foreign Affairs

When Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chung Eui-yong, foreign minister of the Republic of Korea, held talks in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province on Saturday, they exchanged in-depth views on the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, and the further deepening of China-South Korea relations and reached a broad consensus, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

This is Chung's first overseas trip since his inauguration in February, Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday. 

Caption: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds meets with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-Yong in Xiamen, Fujian on Saturday. Photo: Courtesy of fmprc.gov.cn 

Wang said that China and South Korea are eternal neighbors. The two countries took the lead in establishing an anti-epidemic cooperation mechanism, and were the first to establish a "fast channel" for personnel exchanges and the first to promote cooperation in resuming work and productivity.

Wang said that China is willing to maintain close communication with South Korea at all levels, strengthen the strategic dialogue between the two countries' foreign ministries, and launch the Commission for the Future Development of China-South Korea Relations as soon as possible to jointly prepare for the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Chinese Foreign Ministry official website said. 

China and South Korea established official diplomatic relations on August 24, 1992.

Wang also said that to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula, to effectively resolve North Korea's legitimate security concerns, to establish a permanent peace mechanism on the peninsula through dialogue and negotiation, and to achieve complete denuclearization of the peninsula, all parties should make active efforts to this end. China is willing to maintain communication and expand consensus with the South Korean side. He expects the South Korean side to play a constructive role in this regard.

Chung pointed out that achieving the denuclearization of the peninsula and establishing a permanent peace mechanism on the peninsula is the common goal shared by both nations. And he expected China to play an even greater role in advancing the denuclearization process and maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula. 

Chung said that South Korea and China are geographically adjacent to each other and share history and culture. China is South Korea's largest trading partner and an important strategic partner. South Korea attaches great importance to the development of relations with China. 

The South Korean side congratulated the Communist Party of China on the 100th anniversary of its founding and hopes to enhance high-level exchanges with China, strengthening cooperation in various fields. Chung counts on taking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to promote greater development of bilateral relations.

The two sides agreed to hold a new round of high-level strategic dialogues between the foreign ministries of the two countries and the first round of 2+2 diplomatic, and security dialogue at the deputy ministerial level in the first half of this year.

The two sides agreed to establish a committee for the future development of South Korea-China relations as soon as possible, and start preparations for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Global Times