1. During her visit to Beijing for the 9th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting among the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan and the People’s Republic of China, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha met with State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi on the afternoon of August 20. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged in-depth views on matters of mutual interest, including the ROK-China relations, the ROK-Japan-China trilateral cooperation and the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.
 

2. At the meeting held several days ahead of the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the ROK-China diplomatic relations, Minister Kang and State Councilor Wang took note of the advances in the bilateral relationship since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and discussed various ways to further consolidate the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership on the basis of their past experiences of cooperation and mutual trust.

° To that end, the two sides agreed to step up strategic communication on ways to advance the ROK-China relations through active high-level exchanges between the two countries; and agreed to accelerate cooperation in diverse substantive areas, including economy, culture and environment.

 
3. Minister Kang and State Councilor Wang also agreed to take the opportunity of the 9th ROK-Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to continue to expand and strengthen the trilateral cooperation, and to bolster cooperation on various regional and global issues, including the trilateral cooperation.

4. Minister Kang and State Councilor Wang exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the recent series of launches of projectiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and discussed ways for the ROK and China to work together in accelerating the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

° Minister Kang expressed concern that the recent actions by the DPRK, such as its launches of projectiles, may have negative impact on the efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations. On that note, she underscored the need for cooperation of the international community, including China, in keeping the situation on the Korean Peninsula stable and expediting the resumption of dialogue between the United States (U.S.) and the DPRK.

° State Councilor Wang agreed on the need to continue efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue even amid the uncertainty of the situation; reaffirmed support for the ROK government’s efforts to advance the inter-Korean relations; and suggested that the ROK and China maintain close communication and cooperation toward an early resumption of U.S.-DPRK dialogue.

5. The ROK-China foreign ministers’ meeting, which came only about three weeks after the one held on August 1 on the occasion of the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, is seen to have served as an opportunity to continue robust exchanges between the ROK and Chinese foreign ministers as well as close communication on the ROK-China relations and on the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.