1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong had a virtual conversation with State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on Monday, February 28. They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including the Korea-China relations, issues on the Korean Peninsula, and regional and global affairs.

° This conversation, which took place about four months after the Korea-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on the occasion of the 2021 G20 Summit in Rome on October 29, was arranged in line with the agreement between the two countries, during State Councilor Wang’s visit to Korea last September, to strengthen their high-level strategic communication such as carrying out exchanges between the two Foreign Ministers on a regular basis.

2. The two Foreign Ministers agreed to continue close cooperation in order to develop the bilateral relations in a healthy, mature, and future-oriented way, celebrating the 30^th anniversary this year of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

° The two sides shared the view that high-level exchanges including summits are crucial in promoting the bilateral relations, and agreed to continue strategic communication through various methods, including face-to-face and non-face-to-face ones.

° The two sides recognized that promoting mutual understanding and friendly sentiment between the two peoples is the important basis for the future development of the Korea-China relations, and hoped to actively make efforts to enhance friendly sentiment between the two peoples, marking the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of the two countries’ diplomatic relations and the Year of Korea-China Cultural Exchanges (2021-2022).

° The two sides also agreed to continuously support the Committee for Future-oriented Development of Korea-China Relations, composed of experts from the two countries, so that the committee can successfully carry out its task to suggest a future-oriented development roadmap for the next 30 years of bilateral relations.

° The two sides decided to continuously expand substantive cooperation in a variety of areas closely linked to daily lives of the two peoples, such as the stable management of supply chains including raw materials, the promotion of cultural content exchanges, and environmental issues.

3. The two Foreign Ministers shared their assessments of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, and shared a common view on the necessity and importance of early reinvigoration of the Korean Peninsula Peace Process.

° Under a shared perspective of the need to prevent any further deterioration of the situation of the Korean Peninsula, the two sides, based on the achievements and principles made so far, exchanged views on ways for an early resumption of dialogue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

° Moreover, the two sides agreed to continuously strengthen strategic communication at each level, including consultations between the two countries’ chief negotiators for the North Korean nuclear issue.

4. The two sides exchanged views on global affairs including the situation in Ukraine, as well as issues of mutual interests such as the decision of the Japanese government to nominate the “Sado Island Gold Mines” for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and to release contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the ocean. The two sides also discussed ways to promote cooperation on the regional and international stage such as Korea’s candidacy for the next Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO). 

° In particular, regarding the situation in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Chung condemned Russia’s armed invasion against Ukraine as a violation of the principles of the UN Charter, stressed that the use of force that causes innocent casualties cannot be justified under any circumstances, and explained the Korean government’s position that Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence should be respected. In this regard, Foreign Minister Chung said that the Korean government decided to actively join the international community’s sanctions.

° State Councilor Wang mentioned that the principles and goals of the UN Charter should be observed, and rational security concerns of each country should be respected, and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China supports all diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation in Ukraine in a peaceful way, and to this end, China will play a constructive role.