1. Kim Hong Kyun, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, and Ma Zhaoxu, Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, held the tenth Korea-China Vice Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue on July 24 in Seoul. The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest such as Korea-China relations, Korean Peninsula issues, and regional and global affairs.

※ The Dialogue has been held 9 times since the two countries agreed at the Korea-China Summit in 2008 to establish a high-level strategic dialogue channel between their diplomatic authorities.

     - The tenth Dialogue came 2 years and 7 months after the ninth which was held in a virtual format in December 2021.

※ In the opening remarks, the Korean side expressed condolences over the loss of lives caused by the recent heavy rains in Shanxi and Sichuan Provinces in China and wished for a swift recovery from the disaster.

2. The two sides appreciated that high-level exchanges between Korea and China have been on the increase since the bilateral summit in 2022, where the two countries agreed to jointly open a new era of bilateral cooperation. The two sides agreed to utilize this momentum of exchanges and cooperation amd make a concerted effort in bolstering their shared commitment to cooperation.

3. The two sides appreciated that following the agreement by President Yoon Suk Yeol and Premier Li Qiang to establish or reactivate bilateral communication channels in the areas of diplomacy and security, reached during the meeting held on the occasion of the recent Korea-Japan-China Trilateral Summit, such strategic communication has been in high gear, as could be seen from the Vice Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue coming only a month after the Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue in June. The two sides agreed to continuously develop their Strategic Cooperative Partnership based on mutual respect, reciprocity and shared interests. Furthermore, the two sides shared the view that they should further promote economic and commercial trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries through communication channels such as the Korea-China Meeting for Comprehensive Review of Economic Cooperation and Working-Level Meeting on Consular Affairs.

4. Regarding Korean Peninsula issues, the Korean side expressed grave concerns over North Korea’s escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region through its multiple complex provocations as well as its conclusion of the “Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” and strengthened military and economic cooperation with Russia. The Korean side called on China to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in denuclearizing North Korea, and proposed that Korea and China continue communication in that regard. In response, the Chinese side stated that China’s policy regarding the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged and that China will play a constructive role in resolving Korean Peninsula issues. Also, the Korean side explained the priority and significance that the Korean government places on protecting North Korean defectors and once again requested the Chinese government’s active cooperation regarding the matter.

5. The two sides also discussed regional and global affairs, including Korea-Japan-China trilateral cooperation as well as the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East.

6. Earlier in the day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul had a meeting with Executive Vice Minister Ma Zhaoxu and discussed issues of mutual interest such as Korea-China relations and global affairs. The two sides appreciated that this year has witnessed a vitalization of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various areas. Also, Minister Cho pointed out that North Korea’s continued provocations and its close ties with Russia are seriously threatening peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the international community.