Asia-Pacific vibes are strong! In recent months, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have been turning up the heat on their friendship, from high-level chats to booming trade and cultural collabs 🌟.
Diplomatic vibes got a major boost ahead of the APEC meeting in Gyeongju. On September 17, ROK Foreign Minister Cho Hyun made his first official trip to the Chinese mainland. He got straight to the point: “We want to further enhance high-level exchanges, deepen cooperation in economy, trade, and cultural exchange, and speed up negotiations on the China-ROK and China-Japan-ROK free trade agreements.”
Just weeks later, on October 7, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi rang up Cho Hyun for a phone call. They agreed to “strengthen solidarity and cooperation, uphold multilateralism and safeguard the international trade system.” Plus, both sides promised to team up for an epic APEC 2026 in China.
This year also marks 33 years of diplomatic ties between China and ROK. Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing said their friendship is built on “deep historical and cultural ties and intertwined interests.” After nine months in Seoul, he is all smiles over frequent friendly exchanges in politics, economy and culture.
Nam Jin, deputy director-general at the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, echoed the excitement: relations are entering a “new stage of qualitative improvement” after decades of solid growth. He is confident that understanding and collaboration will keep getting deeper 🌱.
From trade deals to cultural festivals, China and the ROK are writing a fresh chapter of shared prosperity. Stay tuned as these two powerhouses continue to shape the future of the Asia-Pacific! 🚀
Reference(s):
China-ROK ties strengthen, driving shared prosperity in Asia-Pacific
cgtn.com
