1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on May 26. On the occasion, the two Ministers had an intensive consultation on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea’s nuclear issue and recent relevant developments, as well as preparations for the envisioned visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Republic of Korea. They also exchanged in-depth views on the way forward for the ROK-China relations and various ways to work together on regional and global issues.

* Minister Wang is on a visit to the ROK on May 26-27 for the first time since taking office.

2. Minister Yun noted with appreciation that since President Park Geun-hye's state visit to China in June 2013, the ROK and China have seen their strategic communication strengthened in politics and security; advances in economic and trade cooperation; and an increase in exchanges between the peoples of their two countries, all of which has brought the two countries closer together than ever before. He suggested that the two countries, building upon these advances, work together to open a new horizon for their ties.

° Expressing consent on Minister Yun's view, Minister Wang noted that the ROK-China ties are at their best since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992. He voiced hope that the two countries will make joint efforts to further advance their bilateral ties.

3. The two Ministers shared the view that President Xi's upcoming visit to the ROK is very timely in that it will serve as a historic milestone for taking the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level and have positive impact on peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. They agreed to make all necessary preparations for President Xi's visit through consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.

4. The two Ministers agreed to move the ROK-China relations further forward in line with the framework and the direction stipulated in the ROK-China Joint Statement for Future Vision agreed upon by their two governments last year. To this end, they agreed to further step up strategic communication through regular and increased visits and other forms of exchanges between high-level officials, including the Ministers; deepen mutual economic dependence in order to spearhead the growth of regional and global economy; continue expanding cultural and other forms of exchanges between the peoples of the two countries; build an order of peace and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia; and work together on the global stage.

5. The two Ministers drew a common understanding that close economic cooperation between the two countries is essential for moving bilateral ties forward and achieving shared prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. In this light, they agreed to accelerate bilateral FTA negotiations toward its early conclusion and to proactively support bids of companies of the two countries to expand their presence in each other's countries.

° Minister Yun commented that keener attention to and the resolution of challenges facing Korean companies -- such as those related to the issuance of work or residence permits to Korean employees assigned to China; and the relocation or construction of factories in China -- would contribute greatly to advances in bilateral relations. He asked the central and provincial governments of China to pay particular attention to such challenges and cooperate to resolve them.

6. Minister Yun, bringing attention to the need to eliminate factors that could have negative impact on the stable development of bilateral ties, asked the Chinese government to pay keener attention to and cooperate to address the issues concerning the fisheries order in the Yellow Sea; the ROK-China maritime demarcation; and North Korean defectors.

7. The two Ministers reached a common understanding that North Korea's nuclear activities and recent relevant developments pose a grave threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. Voicing their shared resolute opposition to any further nuclear test by North Korea, they agreed to step up bilateral and multilateral cooperation in this regard.

° Both sides recognized a need to resume meaningful dialogue that can lead to substantive progress toward the denuclearization of North Korea and the stoppage of the sophistication of its nuclear capabilities under the principle of no tolerance of a nuclear North Korea. They agreed to explore ways to create necessary conditions to that end.

8. Minister Yun stressed that as the ROK government’s Dresden initiative for reunification contains a practical plan for building inter-Korean trust with a view to establishing peace and paving the way for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula, North Korea should positively respond to the initiative. He also commented that the reunification would help serve interests of the neighboring countries. In response, Minister Wang commended such efforts by the ROK and reaffirmed China’s support for a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

9. With regard to regional situations and global issues, the two Ministers agreed to communicate and consult with each other more closely. Minister Yun elaborated on the direction and plan for implementing the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative designed to structurally ease the tensions and mutual distrust in the region. Minister Wang responded by expressing support for the initiative and willingness to work with the ROK in that regard.

10. Minister Yun voiced hope for a successful APEC Summit in China this year. Meanwhile, Minister Wang conveyed China’s willingness to work closely with the ROK to make successes of various international events to be hosted by the country, including the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics .

11. The ROK-China Foreign Ministers’ meeting on May 26 was the fourth between the two Ministers and their first in 2014. Such frequent meetings and regular exchanges of visits between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries are expected to play a role in faithfully boosting the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership as agreed upon by the two countries during President Park’s visit to China last year and stepping up bilateral strategic communication on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. 


                Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation