China-South Korea ties at ‘a critical juncture’, Wang Yi says amid bid for reset

Beijing urged Seoul to move bilateral relations forward on “the right track” when China’s top diplomat Wang Yi met South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s special envoys on Sunday.

“The relationship between [China and South Korea] is at a critical juncture for improvement and development,” the Chinese foreign minister told the visiting delegation led by former South Korean National Assembly speaker Park Byeong-seug.

The meeting on Sunday coincided with the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two neighbours. It is the latest sign of efforts to reset relations with the newly installed leadership in Seoul under Lee after years of frostiness in the shadow of his predecessor Yoon Suk-yeol’s geopolitical tilt towards Washington and Tokyo.

Wang noted that Beijing’s policy towards South Korea maintained stability and continuity, according to a readout of the talks issued by the Chinese foreign ministry on Monday.

“Both sides should … firmly uphold the direction of friendship, expand common interests, improve sentiment between the two people, properly handle sensitive issues, and promote the steady and sustained progress of bilateral relations on the right track,” Wang told the South Korean envoys.

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Park echoed the view, saying Seoul was ready to bring the strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations “back on track” by enhancing high-level exchanges, practical cooperation and people-to-people ties, according to the Chinese release.

South China Morning Post