Korean foreign minister, Chinese counterpart to discuss Xi's likely APEC visit, bilateral ties
Published: 15 Sep. 2025, 12:24
![Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks to reporters upon arrival at Incheon International Airport on Sept. 8. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2025/09/15/9a6c20f4-f471-4b17-b917-617bc858f957.jpg)
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks to reporters upon arrival at Incheon International Airport on Sept. 8. [NEWS1]
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will discuss Chinese President Xi Jinping's expected visit to Korea for next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and other bilateral issues when he meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi later this week, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Monday.
Cho will make a two-day trip to Beijing starting Wednesday for what will be his first one-on-one talks with Wang since the launch of the Lee Jae Myung government in early June, the ministry said in a message to media.
"The two sides will have broad discussions, including Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Korea on the occasion of the APEC summit next month and efforts to develop the Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership in a mature manner," it said.
Xi is widely expected to attend the APEC summit, a multilateral leaders' gathering of major economies set to take place in the southeastern city of Gyeongju from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. China is the host for next year's APEC.
Cho's visit to China comes as the Lee government seeks to manage ties with Beijing while bolstering the alliance with the United States and trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan.
The growing U.S.-China rivalry has left Korea struggling to balance its security alliance with Washington and economic ties with Beijing.
![Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks during a press conference at Incheon International Airport on Sept. 12. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2025/09/15/1ef1b45d-d2c6-4fa3-9ae6-1ffdd5a1f66b.jpg)
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks during a press conference at Incheon International Airport on Sept. 12. [NEWS1]
After his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump late last month, Lee said it has become harder to maintain that approach given the changing geopolitical dynamics.
His comments were seen as suggesting Washington's push to counter China leaves Seoul with little room to maneuver, meaning that Korea is pressed to align its diplomacy with core U.S. foreign policy.
Another key topic is expected to be North Korea, after leader Kim Jong-un made a rare appearance at China's Victory Day celebrations in Beijing earlier this month, standing alongside Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Cho is likely to share assessments on North Korea's recent developments with Wang and call for Beijing's cooperation in Seoul's efforts to resume dialogue with Pyongyang. North Korea has rejected the Lee government's overtures.
In the recent summit talks with Xi, the North's Kim reportedly asked for Beijing's understanding on his decision to discard its policy of pursuing unification with Korea, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported last week, citing unidentified diplomatic sources.
On Saturday, the North's state media reported that Kim will unveil a policy of simultaneously pursuing nuclear forces and conventional weapons at its upcoming party congress.
Cho is also expected to use the forthcoming talks to discuss pending bilateral issues, including China's steel structures in the overlapping area of the Yellow Sea, a dispute that has heightened tensions between the two countries.
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)