China South Korea Photo:VCG

August 24, 2025 marks the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and South Korea. A special envoy group, led by former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok arrived in China on the same day for a visit and will deliver a letter from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to the Chinese leader. 

It is a longstanding tradition in South Korean diplomacy for the government to send delegations to important countries, including China, to elaborate on its foreign policy after a new administration takes office. 

On September 3, South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik will attend the event to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. South Korean media believe that these arrangements highlight the great importance the Lee administration attaches to China-South Korea relations. 

The long-term development of China-South Korea relations is rooted in their shared historical memories and strategic interests. 

Since modern times, the Chinese people and the people of the Korean Peninsula have forged a deep bond of shared destiny in the struggle against Japanese militarist aggression. From the site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai to the barracks of the Korean Liberation Army in Xi'an, shared historical memories constitute the historical bond between China and South Korea, determining their natural alignment on major principles such as maintaining the post-World War II international order and defending historical justice.

On a practical level, maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and long-term security in Northeast Asia aligns with the strategic interests of both China and South Korea. In the process of advancing the Peninsula's transition away from the armistice mechanism and establishing a permanent peace mechanism for the Peninsula, China and South Korea are natural partners. Opposing war and chaos on the Peninsula, promoting political solutions to conflicts, and preventing escalation of the situation are shared responsibilities both nations must bear.

In the 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have caught up with the tide of economic globalization and regional integration. Through economic and trade cooperation, the two countries have jointly shaped a cooperative framework and a community of shared destiny. China has remained South Korea's largest trading partner, largest export market, and largest import source for many years, with deep integration of their industrial and supply chains. From semiconductors and automobiles to culture and tourism, bilateral cooperation has permeated every aspect of their economic and social exchanges. 

In recent years, the signing and implementation of the China-South Korea Free Trade Agreement and the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the ongoing negotiations for a China-Japan-South Korea free trade agreement have brought tangible benefits to both peoples and opened up broad prospects for deeper economic integration in Northeast Asia.

China and South Korea share geographical proximity and cultural ties. The foundation of their relations is not only reflected in economic and security fields but also in deep cultural exchanges. Over the years, from Chinese tourists flocking to Seoul's Myeongdong and Namsan, popularized by Korean dramas, to young Koreans visiting Shanghai for weekend getaways, the people of both countries have deepened their understanding and friendship through frequent interactions.

Following China's decision last November to grant visa-free entry for South Korean citizens for a 15-day stay, the South Korean government has also announced that, from September 29 to June 30 next year, it will implement a visa-free policy for Chinese group tourists. On social media, many South Korean bloggers have shared their travel experiences in China, becoming powerful promoters of the "China Travel" trend. This grassroots exchange has injected vitality and energy into the bilateral relationship.

In recent years, China-South Korea relations had reached a low point not seen since the establishment of diplomatic ties. During former president Yoon Suk-yeol's administration, South Korea's foreign policy underwent a significant shift, adopting positions different from previous administrations on regional affairs and sensitive issues related to China's core interests. 

This led to a severe erosion of political mutual trust between the two countries and a cooling of bilateral relations. The root causes of this shift stem not only from the structural influence of external forces but also from South Korea's own misperceptions of China. Some politicians blindly cooperated with external forces to engage in bloc confrontation, even at the cost of sacrificing China-South Korea relations to pursue strategic opportunism. This not only contradicts South Korea's own interests but also greatly exacerbates the uncertainty on the Korean Peninsula, severely damaging public opinions toward each other between the two sides. 

After the new South Korean government took office, it made several positive statements about the importance of China-South Korea relations, bringing a new opportunity for improvement and development. 

As the two countries have different social systems and development situations, it is normal that they have some differences. The key is for both sides to consistently respect each other's core interests and major concerns. China-South Korea relations are based on mutual interests that benefit both peoples, and they are not targeted at any third party nor should they be constrained by any third party. Only with strategical autonomy could South Korea earn the genuine respect of the international community, including China, and be able to navigate a complex, changing international landscape while playing a more active and constructive role.

Thirty-three years ago, the older generation of leaders in China and South Korea transcended ideological differences and made the historic strategic decision to establish diplomatic ties, breaking the ice of the Cold War in Northeast Asia and creating the conditions for the process of East Asian integration. The subsequent long-term development of China-South Korea relations has fully proven the correctness of this decision.

China and South Korea are inseparable neighbors. It is expected that the new South Korean administration will demonstrate political wisdom and strategic foresight, return to the original intent of establishing diplomatic ties, and steer bilateral relations back onto a path of healthy and stable development.