Kathmandu— Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Seoul on Wednesday, where both officials affirmed their commitment to fostering a “healthy, stable, and sustainable” bilateral relationship. The meeting comes as the two nations mark the 34th anniversary of diplomatic relations and follows recent high-level exchanges between their leaders. Discussions centered on deepening economic ties, expanding cooperation into new technological fields, and promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Strategic Vision for Bilateral Relations

Wang Yi emphasized the importance of strategic vision to ensure the continued development of China-South Korea relations, expressing hope that South Korea would pursue an independent foreign policy. He highlighted the significance of recent leadership exchanges and their role in providing strategic guidance for the future of the relationship. Both sides agreed on the need to maintain high-level communication as a cornerstone of their partnership.

Expanding Economic and Technological Cooperation

The ministers acknowledged the strong foundation of economic and trade cooperation between China and South Korea, noting that the two countries have become deeply interconnected economically. Wang Yi expressed interest in exploring new areas for collaboration, including artificial intelligence, green transition initiatives, the digital economy, high-end equipment manufacturing, and opportunities within the ‘silver economy’ – catering to aging populations. Both officials also voiced support for accelerating negotiations on the second phase of the China-South Korea Free Trade Agreement.

People-to-People Exchanges and Regional Stability

Wang Yi stressed the importance of strengthening people-to-people connections through increased exchanges in areas such as youth programs, media collaboration, sports, think tank dialogues, and local government partnerships. He also indicated China’s willingness to leverage its hosting of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting to promote regional cooperation and stability within the Asia-Pacific region. Cho Hyun affirmed South Korea’s consistent adherence to the one-China policy.

Korean Peninsula Peace Efforts

Addressing the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Wang Yi reiterated China’s commitment to playing a constructive role in promoting peace and stability. He emphasized that China consistently seeks to contribute positively to efforts aimed at de-escalation and dialogue.

Both nations reaffirmed their dedication to elevating the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership and continuing close high-level exchanges.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.