Xi reaffirms support for sound relations with South Korea

President Xi Jinping told his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday that no matter how the global situation changes, China and South Korea should stay committed to their original aspirations when establishing diplomatic ties and keep with the direction of good neighborliness and friendship.

While meeting with Yoon on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru — their first meeting in two years, the Chinese president also expressed China's congratulations to and support for South Korea in assuming the role of APEC host next year.

Their last meeting was in Bali, Indonesia, after Yoon took office as the South Korean president in May 2022.

"Both the world and the region have witnessed a lot of changes over the past two years," Xi said, urging the two countries to be persistent with the goal of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

Xi said the two countries should give full play to their advantages of geographical proximity, cultural affinity and economic integration to strengthen exchanges and deepen cooperation. By doing so, the two countries would bring more benefits to their peoples and make greater contributions to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

He stressed that the two sides should strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance understanding and trust, and strive to facilitate each other's achievements for common development.

China is South Korea's largest trading partner and serves as its biggest source of imports and its largest destination for exports. In the first nine months of this year, bilateral trade exceeded $240 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.5 percent, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Xi told Yoon that as China is committed to expanding high-level opening-up, it welcomes more enterprises from South Korea to invest and conduct business in the country.

He called on the two sides to jointly uphold the international free trade system, maintain the stability and smooth operation of global and regional industrial and supply chains, and engage in activities conducive to enhancing friendship.

China welcomes more South Koreans to travel in the country, and it is hoped that the South Korean side would introduce more measures to facilitate the visits of Chinese citizens, Xi said.

Yoon lauded China as an important engine of world economic growth, saying that the country has made significant contributions to addressing issues faced by the world.

South Korea considers China a crucial cooperative partner and hopes to develop bilateral ties on the basis of mutual respect, thus promoting regional peace and stability, he said.

Yoon also said South Korea remains committed to respect for the one-China principle and expressed the hope of being involved in China's modernization drive.