South Korea seeks 'mature' development of ties with China

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Seoul is seeking “mature” development of its ties with China, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's special envoys to China said, Yonhap News reported on Monday.

The envoys said Seoul will seek to develop its "strategic cooperative partnership" with China while strengthening its alliance with the US, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The delegation, led by former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Sunday, stressing "mature" Seoul-Beijing ties based on national interest and pragmatism, alongside continued alliance-building with the US.

The envoys also delivered President Lee’s letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping and invited him to the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.

For his part, Wang told the delegation that “today marks the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between” China and South Korea, according to a statement on the Chinese Foreign Ministry website.

“The bilateral relationship is now at an important stage of improvement and development,” Wang added, noting that Beijing “maintains stability and continuity in its policy towards” Seoul.

He urged both sides to “adhere to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, firmly uphold the friendship, expand common interests, and improve relations between the two peoples.”

China and South Korea formally established diplomatic relations in August 1992. The trade volume between South Korea and China reached $267.6 billion in 2024.