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Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu (left) meets with South Korea's Minister for Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul in Seoul, South Korea on July 24, 2024. Photo: China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu met with South Korea's Minister for Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul on Wednesday and held high-level strategic talks with Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun with the two sides agreeing to properly handle differences, enhance mutual goodwill among their peoples, and advance the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership, according to a release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. 

From July 21 to 25, the Chinese vice foreign minister held the 16th round of China-Japan strategic dialogue with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano in Tokyo, and the 10th round of the high-level strategic dialogue between the foreign ministries of China and South Korea in Seoul, according to Xinhua News Agency. 

The meeting between vice foreign ministers of China and South Korea on Wednesday was the first high-level strategic talks in more than two years, according to South Korean media. 

According to a release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, during the strategic dialogue, the two sides reviewed and positively assessed the achievements in the development of China-South Korea relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties, agreeing that promoting the healthy and stable development of China-South Korea relations serves the common interests of both parties and is conducive to regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity.

The two sides agreed to actively implement the important consensus reached by their leaders, strengthen exchanges and communication, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, properly handle differences, enhance mutual goodwill among their peoples, and advance the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership, according to the release. 

The Chinese side expressed its solemn stance on issues involving its core interests and major concerns, such as Taiwan and the South China Sea, urging South Korea to adhere to the one-China principle and maintain the political foundation of China-South Korea relations, and to adopt an objective and fair stance on the South China Sea issue.

South Korea reaffirmed its adherence to the one-China principle and expressed hope for peace and stability in the South China Sea, according to the release. 

The Chinese side also noted that both China and South Korea are beneficiaries of economic globalization and should jointly oppose trade protectionism and "decoupling and breaking of supply chains," resist the politicization and securitization of economic issues, ensure the stability and smoothness of their industrial and supply chains, and maintain the international free trade system. 

South Korea emphasized the importance of industrial and supply chain cooperation between the two countries and expressed its willingness to strengthen dialogue and coordination with China.

Both sides elaborated on their respective positions and views on international and regional issues of common concern, such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula. 

China stressed that the current situation on the peninsula is complex and fraught, adding that maintaining regional peace and stability is in the common interest of all parties. The urgent task at hand is to de-escalate the situation, and China hopes that all relevant parties, including South Korea, will play a positive and constructive role in advancing the political resolution process of the peninsula issue, according to the release. 

Global Times