Beijing，Seoul，January11，2023（AseanAll）Chinese new Foreign Minister Qin Gang had a Phone Call with Foreign Minister Park Jin of the Republic of Korea (ROK，South Korea )On January 9.
According to the press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China on January 9，Qin Gang said that China and the ROK are inseparable neighbors and partners. The sound and steady development of China-ROK relations serves the common interests of both sides and is the general direction that both sides are continuously working towards. Qin Gang expressed readiness to establish and maintain a good working relationship with Park Jin, jointly implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state, stay grounded in current realities and take a long-term view, stay committed to the friendly relations and rally cooperation forces, so as to work for the steady and long-term development of China-ROK relations.
Park Jin congratulated Qin Gang on his assuming office as China's Foreign Minister, saying that he fully agrees with the Chinese side’s remarks on bilateral relations and expects to take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to earnestly implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state and open a new era of mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation between the ROK and China. The ROK side is ready to strengthen people-to-people and cultural interactions and personnel exchanges.
Qin Gang expressed concerns over the ROK's recent entry restrictions on travelers from China, and voiced his hope that the ROK side will uphold an objective and science-based attitude.
The two sides also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The two foreign ministers also exchanged New Year greetings.
According to the press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea on January 11，the two sides had a 50-minute telephone conversation.They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including Korea-China relations, issues on the Korean Peninsula, and regional and global affairs.
The two Foreign Ministers reaffirmed that, last year, marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations, Korea and China had agreed to develop bilateral relations in a more mature and healthy way based on mutual respect, reciprocity and common interest. They also agreed to actively cooperate in order to firmly implement the direction for developing bilateral relations agreed upon by the leaders of the two countries in the bilateral summit held on the sidelines of the G20 summit last November.
The two Foreign Ministers agreed to continue the momentum of exchanges between the two leaders, make reciprocal visits and reinforce regular communication between the two Foreign Ministers, and promote high-level exchanges and communication at various levels, including the Foreign and Defense (2+2) Vice-Ministerial Meeting, the Vice Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue, and the Committee on People-to-People Exchanges.
Furthermore, the two Foreign Ministers shared the view on putting joint efforts to achieve tangible results in areas that have impact on the daily lives of people, including supply chain dialogue, follow-up negotiations on the Korea-China FTA, and fine dust and climate change.
Park Jin stressed that it is in common interest of both countries that the DPRK(North Korea)refrains from further provocations and comes forward for denuclearization talks, and requested China’s constructive role for peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.
The two Foreign Ministers agreed to continue close communication and cooperation at all levels with respect to issues on the Korean Peninsula.
Park Jin explained that the Korean government’s quarantine policy has been implemented in accordance with scientific evidence, and the two Foreign Ministers also agreed to communicate and cooperate in tackling various regional and global issues, such as the stabilization of the COVID-19 situation and economic recovery.
It should be noted that the South Korean government has suspended the issuance of short-term visas for Chinese citizens to South Korea since January 2, and imposed strict restrictions on Chinese citizens to South Korea.
The Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Korea said on January 10 that from now on, China will suspend the issuance of short-term visas for South Korean citizens to visit China, business, tourism, medical treatment, transit and general private affairs. The above measures will be adjusted according to South Korea's cancellation of the restrictions on non-discriminatory entry into China.
