1. On November 22, Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam met with Executive Vice-President He Yiting of the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, who was on a visit to the Republic of Korea to share domestic situation in China, and issues concerning the Korean Peninsula and the North Korean nuclear program.

2. The two sides noted with appreciation that in the wake of the announcement on October 31 regarding the plan to improve the ROK-China relations, bilateral summit talks had taken place on the sidelines of the recent APEC meeting, a milestone toward the restoration of bilateral relations. They drew a common understanding that the two countries should seek to step up substantive cooperation in a bid to move their relations further forward.

° Vice Minister Lim voiced hope that the proposed visit of the ROK President to China in 2017 and reciprocal visits by other high-level officials of the two countries will help maintain the momentum toward improved bilateral relations.

3. Executive Vice-President He, calling the 19th CPC National Congress from October 18 till 24 a success, stated that the second-term Xi Jinping government will work to beef up relations with the ROK and other neighboring countries.

4. With regard to the North Korean nuclear issue, the two sides reaffirmed their position calling for a peaceful solution through dialogue, drawing a common understanding that the current security situation on the Korean Peninsula should be managed in a stable manner and that the ROK and China should consult more closely with each other to seek ways to induce the North to dialogue.

5. During their visit to the ROK, Executive Vice-President He and his delegation paid a courtesy call on Deputy Speaker Park Joo-Sun of the National Assembly and held meetings with major members of ruling and opposition political parties, including Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae of the Democratic Party and floor leader Jung Woo-taek of the Liberty Korea Party. The Chinese delegation will leave for Japan on November 23.


* unofficial translation