1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha had a meeting with Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, on the afternoon of December 4. The two sides discussed in depth matters concerning the Republic of Korea (ROK)-China relations, including summit- and high-level exchanges and substantive cooperation, as well as Korean Peninsula issues, such as dialogue between the United States (U.S.) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. They also extensively exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest, including regional and global issues.
 
2. Minister Kang, welcoming State Councilor Wang’s first official visit to the ROK in five years, noted with appreciation that the ROK and China have engaged in close political communication through active high-level exchanges, such as the bilateral summit held on the occasion of the G20 Summit in June 2019; stepped up exchanges and cooperation in areas of substantive cooperation; and communicated closely on issues involving the Korean Peninsula. She suggested that the two countries redouble efforts to take the bilateral relations to a higher level by building on such achievements.

° In response, State Councilor Wang took note of the recently active high-level exchanges between the two sides as well as cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and proposed active cooperation toward further development of the bilateral relations.

3. The two Ministers shared the view on the importance of ROK-China summit exchanges to the relations between the two countries. State Councilor Wang mentioned that China attaches significance to the ROK President’s visit to China for the ROK-Japan-China Trilateral Summit, which is being arranged for within the year, and will make thorough preparations for a successful visit. The two sides also discussed the issue of President Xi Jinping’s visit to the ROK.

4. The two Ministers agreed to actively operate major dialogue mechanisms between the diplomatic authorities of the two countries and set up new ones. The two sides agreed to hold a meeting of the ROK-China committee for the promotion of people-to-people and cultural exchanges and a strategic dialogue between the vice foreign ministers in the near future; to launch a director-general-level dialogue mechanism on maritime affairs cooperation; and to continue active bilateral exchanges such as those between junior diplomats. 
 
° The two sides also agreed to proceed with adopting the “annual plan on exchanges and cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the ROK and China,” which includes vitalizing dialogue mechanisms and exchange projects between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, including communication between the Ministers.

5. The two Ministers shared the understanding that it is vital to expand exchanges and cooperation in substantive areas, including economy, environment, tourism, people-to-people exchanges and culture, for the development of the bilateral relations. On that note, they welcomed the fact that at the bilateral meeting for a comprehensive review of economic cooperation held on November 27, the two countries had started to draft “the ROK-China Joint Plan for Economic Cooperation (2021-2025),” which will provide a blueprint for future-oriented economic cooperation.

° The two sides also agreed to continue to increase exchanges between people as well as humanities exchanges, including those between youth, provinces, academic and sports circles, and media outlets. In addition, they stressed that cooperation will be strengthened on fine dust and other environmental matters.

6. The two Ministers exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and agreed to seek substantial progress toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through U.S.-DPRK dialogue and to continue close communication and cooperation between the ROK and China in order to maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula.

7. The two Ministers shared the understanding that the two countries should communicate and cooperate more closely on regional and global issues as well.

° Minister Kang noted that through the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of KOREA Commemorative Summit and the 1st Mekong-Republic of KOREA Summit, the ROK won ASEAN leaders’ support for the ROK’s commitment to substantively implementing its New Southern Policy and thereby upgrading its relations with ASEAN. She added that the meetings covered ways to pursue future-oriented sectoral cooperation under the New Southern Policy, focusing on 3P (people, prosperity and peace).

° The two Ministers welcomed the adoption of the ROK-China track-1.5 joint report at the recent bilateral meeting for a comprehensive review of economic cooperation – the report, which had been drafted by the two countries’ think tanks to present ways for cooperation between the ROK’s New Southern & Northern Policies and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, in a follow-up on the bilateral summit held in December 2017. They agreed to continue to explore concrete ways for cooperation between the two regional initiatives.

8. The ROK-China foreign ministers’ meeting, the 9th between the two Ministers, marks their 4th meeting in 2019 alone. Such active communication between the two Ministers is expected to help step up strategic communication between the two countries and help realize the development of the bilateral relations in the way agreed upon by the Presidents of the two countries.