Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (R) elbow bumps her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, during a meeting at Seoul's foreign ministry on Nov. 26, 2020. (Photo: Yonhap News)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted the "robustness" and "vitality" of Beijing's relations with Seoul, during a high-level meeting with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.
The two senior diplomats held a meeting Thursday, during which Wang said his visit to South Korea, despite the coronavirus pandemic, shows how much China values their bilateral partnership.
He explained that "conditions have to be ripe" for President Xi Jinping to travel to Seoul, thanking President Moon Jae-in for inviting the Chinese leader multiple times.
Wang noted, however, that the coronavirus situation must first be brought under control.
He stressed that it's important the two countries cooperate on the pandemic, as well as trade, regional security and Korean Peninsula issues.
The timing of the Chinese official's trip had raised speculation that it may be aimed at bolstering strategic relations amid tensions between China and the U.S. and the impending change in the White House.
When asked about this by reporters, Wang said "the U.S. is not the only country in the world."
According to the foreign ministry, Kang and Wang also agreed to continue cooperation for Seoul's efforts to host a trilateral summit among South Korea, China and Japan, and to push for the launch of a committee to create a roadmap for the future development Seoul-Beijing relations ahead of the 30th anniversary of bilateral ties.
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