BEIJING: Chinese leader Xi Jinping said that Beijing is willing to work with Seoul to promote a strategic partnership, Western media reported on Saturday. According to Reuters, President Xi expressed these remarks during a meeting with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in Hangzhou.
The development came ahead of the scheduled trilateral summit between South Korea, China, and Japan in Seoul on September 26, the first high-level interaction in four years. According to media reports, President Xi told PM Han that he lauds the summit at an opportune time and he will seriously deliberate the matter of visiting Seoul.
Read Also: Beijing Vows to Territorial Reunification
President Xi said that Beijing attaches high significance to the positive willingness of Seoul to commit to cooperation. XI asked South Korea to meet it halfway to keep the direction of friendly cooperation. He added that Beijing and Seoul can deepen and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation.
Tensions between the two East Asian nations rose following North Korea leader’s visit to Russia, which angered South Korea, Japan, and the US.
Earlier, South Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it imposed sanctions on ten individuals and two firms in relation to North Korea’s nuclear program and arms trade with three nations, including Russia.
