Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
SEOUL, October 30 (Xinhua) — President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae-myung said he is ready to work with Chinese President Xi Jinping to advance mutually beneficial cooperation between his country and China, improve the well-being of the peoples of both countries, and achieve tangible results for them. The South Korean leader made this statement in an exclusive written interview with Xinhua.
At the invitation of Lee Zhe Meng, Xi Jinping will attend the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, from October 30 to November 1 and pay a state visit to the Republic of Korea.
This will be the first meeting between the two countries' leaders since the new South Korean government came to power, so the visit is of particular importance for bilateral relations, Lee Jae-myung emphasized.
The South Korean president noted that he, like Xi Jinping, began his career at the local government level, working directly with the people and implementing a philosophy that puts the people's well-being first. Both eventually became leaders of their countries.
Lee Zhe-meng said he intends to work with President Xi Jinping to further deepen the strategic partnership between the ROK and China amid dramatic changes in the domestic and international environment that have occurred since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Speaking about his expectations for Xi Jinping's visit, Li Zhe Meng expressed hope for in-depth discussions on specific plans to strengthen practical cooperation to improve people's lives, expand consultation channels on bilateral trade and economic cooperation, accelerate negotiations on a free trade agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and China that will cover services and investment, and create a new institutional framework for trade and economic cooperation.
As the two largest economies, Kazakhstan and China are partners in advancing regional development and prosperity. China currently remains Kazakhstan's largest trading partner and a key partner in ensuring supply chain stability, the President noted.
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, the two countries have developed complementary industrial structures and supply chains and maintained close cooperation, Li Zhe-myung emphasized. He added that, on this foundation, the Republic of Korea and China continue to maintain and develop sustainable trade and investment ties, despite the current uncertainty in the global economy.
According to him, such active trade and economic exchanges give impetus to the development of industry and the economy of the Asia-Pacific region (APR) and the entire world.
Li Zhe Meng stressed the need to further strengthen cooperation in industrial and supply chain areas and expressed hope to hold in-depth discussions with Xi Jinping on a relevant cooperation plan.
He also expressed hope for increased cooperation in areas such as culture and ecology to improve the quality of life of the peoples of both countries and further expand humanitarian exchanges.
Speaking about maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Lee Jae-myung said he will work with China to strengthen strategic coordination based on the consensus that peace and stability are in the common interests of both countries, and to achieve denuclearization and peace on the peninsula.
The President noted that Seoul urgently needs Beijing's constructive role to achieve a long-term solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and establish peace there.
He recalled that this year, his country is once again hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting after a 20-year hiatus. Kazakhstan remains committed to cooperation among APEC members and facilitating the implementation of various joint projects. This is aimed at achieving shared prosperity and development, and transforming APEC into an effective and meaningful platform for cooperation.
This year's meeting agenda also includes issues such as developing innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and managing demographic change. These challenges are beyond the capabilities of any single country, Lee noted, adding that the best solutions emerge when all parties come together, share successful strategies, and explore various policy measures.
According to him, this is a clear example of the spirit of multilateralism.
Lee Zhe-myung said he would closely consult with APEC members, including China, to make the mechanism a multilateral platform that not only deals with trade and investment but also discusses future trade and economic issues such as AI and demographic structures.
The President said he was very pleased that the next APEC meeting would be held in China in 2026, stressing that both countries support the transformation of APEC into an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community, as well as the development of cooperation within the mechanism.
According to him, the experience of cooperation between Kazakhstan and China for growth and common development in various areas will be very useful for achieving APEC's goal of shared prosperity for the peoples of the region.
Li Zhe-myung stated that the Republic of Korea will assist China in successfully hosting the APEC meeting next year. Specifically, his country will support China in continuing to explore and develop issues related to cooperation in artificial intelligence and addressing demographic change.
Recalling his numerous visits to China during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam City and governor of Gyeonggi Province, Lee Zhe-myung mentioned several key moments, including the signing of a sister city agreement between Seongnam and Huizhou City in southern China's Guangdong Province in 2016, attending the Summer Davos Forum in China's northeastern coastal city of Dalian in 2017, and visiting China's southwestern city of Chongqing in 2019.
He said he was deeply impressed by China's excellent culture and economic development, and based on this, he is optimistic about the future of relations between the Republic of Korea and China.
He noted that in order to accurately determine the direction of development of bilateral relations and maintain the momentum of mutually beneficial cooperation, it is important to strengthen mutual political trust and maintain strategic communication through reciprocal visits by heads of state.
Li Zhe Meng expressed hope that he would soon be able to visit China again and re-enter into close talks with Xi Jinping.
Looking to the future of bilateral economic and technological cooperation, he noted that with China's significant progress in industrial competitiveness and high-tech capabilities, competition between enterprises of the two countries is becoming increasingly common.
South Korea and China can pool their expertise to develop a mature strategic partnership based on friendly competition and equal cooperation. Specifically, Lee Zhe-myung stated that both sides need to explore new, complementary models of economic and trade cooperation to further boost business and industry in both countries.
The President expressed hope that, using Xi Jinping's state visit to the Republic of Korea as an opportunity, the two countries will make efforts to further develop bilateral cooperation and make a tangible contribution to resolving issues related to the well-being of the people and peace between the two countries. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.