1. At the Foreign Ministry on March 21, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who is on a visit to the Republic of Korea from March 20 to 22 to attend an ROK-Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ meeting. In their 1.5-hour-long meeting, the two top diplomats discussed in depth matters of common interest, mainly including the ROK-China relations as well as the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

2. The two sides shared the view that the two countries have steadily undertaken comprehensive and multi-level communication and cooperation mainly through the four channels of strategic dialogue set up over the past two years pursuant to the agreement reached between their leaders. They agreed to accelerate such bilateral efforts to attain the joint goal of the two governments, which is moving their strategic and cooperative partnership more substantially forward.

3. In that vein, the two Ministers, calling the ROK-China FTA initialed on February 25 a new engine that will drive bilateral cooperation forward in substantive sectors, agreed to work for the FTA to be formally signed as soon as possible. Furthermore, the two sides welcomed the envisioned entry into force of the ROK-China consular agreement on April 12; and agreed to accelerate joint efforts to resume negotiations on maritime demarcation within the year, and to step up communication and cooperation to establish order in fishing industry in the Yellow Sea.

4. With regard to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the two Ministers agreed to strengthen their strategic cooperation and communication by drawing upon their shared firm position that they do not accept a nuclear North Korea and will seek its denuclearization. Furthermore, they agreed to work together toward a resumption of meaningful dialogue in a bid to see tangible progress toward the denuclearization of North Korea and prevent the country from sophisticating its nuclear capability. In that regard, they shared the view that their two countries need to communicate and consult with each other on various levels, including that of the head delegate to the Six-Party Talks.

5. Minister Wang commended and extended appreciation to the ROK side for its leading efforts to make an ROK-Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ meeting materialize. The two Ministers agreed to work closely together for the trilateral cooperation mechanism to normalize as soon as possible and develop into a mechanism that contributes substantively to stability and co-prosperity in the region.

6. Minister Wang expressed hope to see President Park Geun-hye at the event to be hosted by the Chinese government on September 3 to mark China’s victory in World War II, inviting Minister Yun to visit China as well. In addition, with regard to the repatriation on March 20 of the second batch of remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the Korean War, the Chinese Minister extended gratitude to the ROK government for its active assistance and cooperation. 


                  Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation