South Korean President Lee Jae-myung Photo: Screenshot from Yonhap News TV

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Monday that the schedule for President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to China early next year will be announced soon in coordination with the Chinese side, according to South Korean media reports. 

Cho made the remarks during an appearance on Yonhap News TV's News Focus program, in response to a query whether the leaders of the two countries would meet in early next year. It appears that most details of Lee's visit to China and the key agenda items for the South Korea-China summit have largely been finalized, according to South Korean media News 1.

Cho said that "from a strategic perspective, the government is considering how the two countries can cooperate for peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia, and how China's economic development affects South Korean companies," adding that both sides will seek ways to achieve a "win-win" outcome, according to the report. 

Cho said that while the US will host the Group of 20 (G20) next year —providing an opportunity — he believes a South Korea-US summit could also be arranged earlier if conditions and timing permit. He added that "under the framework of shuttle diplomacy, it is our president's turn to visit Japan," adding that "a visit early in the year may be possible," and that Seoul is in close consultation with Tokyo, according to the report.

The News 1 also cited Cho as saying that South Korea and Russia are maintaining communication channels where necessary to protect the tangible national interests, including businesses and citizens.

According to a Yonhap News TV report, a presidential office official said that next year's summit diplomacy will continue to focus on "pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests," once again highlighting "national interest" as a key keyword. At a time when China-Japan relations have cooled following Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan, seeking a balance between the two countries has also emerged as a challenge for President Lee.

In September, Cho paid a visit to China, during which Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with him. Since President Lee Jae-myung took office, the two heads of state have had a phone conversation and reached important common understandings on advancing the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level, Wang said. 

Both sides should uphold the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, remain committed to the direction of good-neighborliness and friendship, stick to the goal of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and be true strategic cooperative partners, Wang said, according to a release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

While according to a release of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo held the 11th China-South Korea high-level strategic dialogue between the foreign affairs departments in Beijing on December 18. 

Ma said that China and South Korea are important neighbors and cooperation partners. Under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, China-South Korea relations have shown positive and steady momentum. China stands ready to work with South Korea to implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, maintain close communication and dialogue, deepen practical cooperation, strengthen coordination in multilateral affairs and promote the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership along the right track, according to the release. 

Global Times