Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his willingness to work with South Korea to promote a strategic partnership that adapts to the changing times, according to a report by the official Xinhua News Agency on Saturday.
Xi made the remarks in a meeting with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in Hangzhou, where they attended the opening ceremony of the Asian Games. Xi said he welcomed the upcoming trilateral summit between China, Japan and South Korea in Seoul on Sept. 26, and that he would seriously consider visiting South Korea in the future.
The meeting came amid rising tensions in the region over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, as well as the U.S. alliance with Japan and South Korea. North Korea recently conducted its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile test yet, claiming it could reach any part of the U.S. mainland.
Xi said China attaches great importance to South Korea’s positive willingness to cooperate, and asked South Korea to meet China halfway to maintain the direction of friendly cooperation. He said the two countries should deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, such as trade, investment, culture, sports and health.
Han said South Korea highly values its strategic cooperative partnership with China, and hopes to enhance communication and coordination with China on major issues of common concern. He also expressed his gratitude to China for its support for the Asian Games and its efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, and agreed to work together for peace, stability, development and prosperity of the region and the world.