SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - Newly appointed Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held his first phone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday, marking his second call with a foreign counterpart since taking office July 21.
In their phone call, which lasted about 30 minutes, the two foreign ministers discussed ways to improve bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation on key regional and international issues, according to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry. "Minister Cho and Minister Wang exchanged views on advancing Korea-China relations," a Foreign Ministry official said. The two sides also agreed to expand high-level exchanges and continue dialogue on mutual concerns.
Cho invited Wang to attend the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for late October in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, and proposed working-level coordination to ensure the success of the event. Cho also expressed concern over North Korea’s recent rejection of dialogue with the South and urged China to play a "constructive role" in encouraging Pyongyang to refrain from provocations and return to the path of denuclearization.
Traditionally, South Korea’s top diplomats hold their first call with the United States Secretary of State after taking office. However, Cho prioritized calls with regional neighbors, Tokyo and Beijing. Cho is expected to depart for Washington on Thursday for an in-person meeting with Secretary Rubio. The two are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including security cooperation and support for ongoing negotiations related to bilateral tariffs.
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