South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol looks forward to meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to address the international relationship between Beijing and Seoul.
The potential trip would mark a turning page in relations between the two Asian nations as the South Korean government has continued to align itself more closely with the United States. The office of President Yoon is believed to be arranging a visit, said a senior government official over the weekend.
China-South Korea Relations
The remarks came after the Chinese president met with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on the sidelines of the Asian Games held on Saturday. As per Bloomberg, the former said that he would "seriously consider" visiting South Korea in the future.
Separately, China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the Chinese president told Han that China would work with South Korea to promote a strategic partnership between the two nations.
The situation comes as Xi has not visited South Korea since 2014 and after he held talks with Han in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou before the opening ceremony of the Asian Games.
The commitment to cooperation also came shortly before the scheduled trilateral talks in Seoul on Sept. 26. Those discussions will involve senior officials from China, Japan, and South Korea. They are intended to pave the way for the first summit between the three Asian nations in four years.
The situation comes as China attaches great importance to the positive willingness of South Korea to commit to cooperation. Xi also asked South Korea to meet him halfway to maintain friendly cooperation.
The Chinese president also said that China supports dialogue between the two Koreas and will continue efforts to achieve peace and security on the Korean peninsula. On the other hand, Han asked Beijing to play a constructive role in relations with North Korea, according to Reuters.
Tensions between China and South Korea have been increasing after North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un made a week-long visit to Russia earlier this month. The development angered the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
Addressing International Relationships
South Korea then imposed sanctions on ten individuals and two entities in relation to North Korea's nuclear program and weapons trade with three countries. These nations include Russia, said the foreign ministry on Thursday.
Xi noted that China and South Korea have close economic ties and deep integration in industrial and supply chains. He added that the two nations can deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and continue to achieve mutual success.
Beijing has also become increasingly frustrated with the growing U.S.-Japan-South Korea alliance within the region. The Chinese government strongly protested against a joint statement at the Camp David summit held last month that condemned the Asian superpower's actions in the South China Sea.
Additionally, tensions between China and South Korea have risen after the US lobbied its allies to join its tech war against China. Yoon also angered Beijing in April when he called Taiwan a "global issue" comparable to North Korea, said the South China Morning Post.
