President Yoon Suk-yeol returned to Korea on Nov. 16 after completing a Southeast Asian tour to attend summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Group of 20 (G20) economies.
Earlier on Nov. 15, President Yoon held his first summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping since taking office in May this year.
Both leaders discussed issues of common interest such as development of bilateral relations, issues on the Korean Peninsula, and situations of the region and world, the Office of the President said.
The two sides praised the incredible growth of bilateral exchange and cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992.
They also agreed to advance ties in a more mature fashion based on mutual respect, reciprocity and common interest to mark the 30th anniversary of relations this year.
President Yoon said, “The diplomatic goal of the Korean government is to pursue the freedom, peace and prosperity of the international community based on common values and norms.”
“As China’s role is crucial in improving freedom, peace and prosperity in East Asia and the international community, both countries should closely communicate and work together,” Yoon added.
President Yoon also told his Chinese counterpart that North Korea recently committed provocations at an unprecedented frequency and escalated nuclear and missile threats, saying, “As a permanent and charter member of the United Nations Security Council and our neighboring nation, we expect China to play a more active and constructive role.”
Expressing sympathy on the activation of high-level bilateral dialogue, President Xi proposed a 1.5-track dialogue system between Seoul and Beijing and emphasized expanding two-way communication and building political trust, according to the Office of the President.
“I hope that Korea and China share a common interest in Korean Peninsula issues and defend peace, and for Seoul to actively improve inter-Korean relations,” he added.
On Seoul’s “audacious initiative” of economic assistance to Pyeongyang in return for the latter’s denuclearization, the Chinese leader said, “If North Korea responds favorably, we will provide our active support and cooperation so that this bold plan is implemented well.”
Unable to make a trip to Korea so far because of COVID-19, President Xi said that if the coronavirus situation is stabilized, he would happily accept President Yoon’s invitation to visit Korea. The Chinese leader added that he hopes President Yoon can visit China at a time convenient for both sides.
Korean, US and Japanese Adopt First Joint Statement on Comprehensive Affairs
President Yoon on Nov. 13 held bilateral summits with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and trilateral talks with both, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
On a tour of Southeast Asia, President Yoon in the meetings discussed North Korea’s nuclear program, economy, national security, and cooperation in regional and global affairs.
The three leaders held a 15-minute summit and adopted their first joint statement on comprehensive affairs such as economy and national security in addition to North Korea.
The trilateral summit was the first of its kind in five months, since those held on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
This was also the first time in six years and eight months that a Korean head of state held a bilateral summit each with the leaders of the U.S. and Japan and three-way talks with both on the same day since President Park Geun-hye did so in March 2016.
“The current developments on the Korean Peninsula and in the region and beyond require the strongest level of our trilateral coordination,” President Yoon said.
“The three countries must show solidarity to show North Korea that such reckless provocations can never succeed.”
President Biden reaffirmed the “ironclad” commitment of the U.S. to defending Korea and Japan and extended deterrence against the North.
On Nov. 14, President Yoon chatted with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Korea-Indonesia Business Roundtable at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center in Bali.
In a light conversation, President Yoon said, “Both countries must bolster supply chain links given their complementary industrial structures.”
President Yoon also told his Indonesian counterpart that he hopes for close bilateral cooperation by taking advantage of each other’s strengths in the clean energy sector, such as nuclear, renewable and hydrogen, as well as in the digital economy.
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