Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is visiting South Korea for the first time in five years, made it clear on Wednesday that China is committed to playing a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, welcomes steps by South and North Korea towards peaceful coexistence, and urged the United States to change its long-standing hostile policy toward North Korea.
According to Yonhap News, Wang Yi arrived in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday to begin a two-day visit. He met with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun at noon that day to exchange views on China-South Korea relations, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and regional and international hotspot issues.
According to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, during the talks Wang Yi emphasized that China has always been committed to playing a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, welcomes the gradual move of South and North Korea toward peaceful coexistence, and ultimately achieving lasting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
He pointed out that the relationship between China and South Korea is continuing to improve and develop in the direction indicated by the two countries' leaders. In the face of dramatic turmoil in the international situation this year, China and South Korea, as 'forever friendly neighbors and enduring cooperative partners,' should work hard to ensure the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of bilateral relations. He expressed hope that South Korea will independently and autonomously develop its foreign relations based on its own fundamental interests.
According to a statement by the South Korean Foreign Ministry, during the talks, Cho Hyun said he hopes that the results achieved in improving South Korea-China relations can contribute to peace and stability in the region, including the Korean Peninsula. He also emphasized that South Korea will continue to be committed to the denuclearization and peace of the Korean Peninsula, and is willing to deepen cooperation with China based on the common interest of maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula.
Wang Yi's visit to South Korea coincides with US President Trump seeking to restart diplomatic dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. At a press conference after the meeting, Wang Yi was asked whether China would mediate to facilitate a US-North Korea summit. He answered that this matter should be decided through consultations between North Korea and the United States, especially as the US needs to change its long-standing hostile policy toward North Korea.
Regarding the view of the Trump administration that the current South Korean government under President Lee Jae-myung is 'pro-China,' Wang Yi believes that the Lee Jae-myung government is one that safeguards South Korea's interests, and that deepening friendly cooperation with China serves South Korea's national interests.
This is Wang Yi's first visit to South Korea since 2021, and also the first meeting between the two foreign ministers in nearly a year since their talks in Beijing last September. Wang Yi is scheduled to meet with Lee Jae-myung on Thursday.
After South Korea deployed the US THAAD missile defense system in 2016, China-South Korea relations fell into a low point; but bilateral relations have significantly improved this year. During Lee Jae-myung's visit to China in January, he stated that 2026 should be made the 'Year of Full Restoration of Korea-China Relations.' Since then, the two countries have successively held cooperation meetings in areas such as economy and trade, industry, and customs.
According to a statement by the South Korean Foreign Ministry, during the talks Wang Yi said that China is actively considering holding a China-South Korea leaders' meeting during the APEC Leaders' Summit scheduled for November this year in Shenzhen.