China adn South Korea Pledge to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
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Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China and his Republic of Korea (ROK) counterpart cho Hyun reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations during a phone conversation on October 9, 2025. This follows a recent in-person meeting between the two ministers in Beijing in september, signaling a continued effort to deepen cooperation between the two nations.
Strengthening Mutual Trust and Cooperation
During the call,Wang Yi emphasized the importance of China’s relationship with the ROK,stating that China values the partnership and seeks to enhance mutual trust,avoid disruptions,and deepen cooperation. He highlighted the potential for this collaboration to contribute to the success of both countries and promote peace, stability, and advancement in the region.https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/ (Official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry – for general context and potential future statements)
APEC and Regional Economic Cooperation
The discussion also focused on the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ meeting. South Korea is hosting the 2025 APEC summit, which will be held from October 31st, 2025, in Busan. China will host the 2026 meeting. Wang Yi expressed hope that both countries would support each other in facilitating the success of these events and fostering consensus among APEC members. He also underscored the importance of safeguarding the international trade system, upholding multilateralism, and advancing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). https://www.apec.org/ (Official APEC Website)
South korea’s Commitment to the Relationship
Cho Hyun reciprocated the sentiment, stating that South Korea places great importance on its ties with China and will actively work to develop the relationship further.He expressed his hope that the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting would provide an opportunity to enhance high-level interactions and deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.https://www.mofa.go.kr/eng/index.do (Official website of the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs – for general context and potential future statements)
robust Economic Ties
China and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1992 and have since developed a strong economic partnership. China is currently South Korea’s largest trading partner,representing the largest market for South Korean exports and the largest source of its imports. According to data from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), in 2023, bilateral trade volume between China and South Korea reached $308.7 billion. https://www.kita.net/eng/index.do (Korea International Trade Association – for trade statistics)
Secondary Keywords: China-South Korea relations, bilateral ties, APEC, FTAAP, Wang Yi, Cho Hyun, trade, diplomacy, East Asia, international relations, South korea foreign policy, China foreign policy.