Former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok led a special envoy delegation to China that met with Wang Yi, Director General of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the 24th to deliver a presidential letter. Minister Wang noted, 'China has consistently valued the China-Korea relationship,' expressing his welcome.
The special envoy delegation met with Minister Wang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing around 5:40 p.m. local time. From the Chinese side, seven participants attended, including Minister Wang, Sun Weidong, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Liu Jinsong, Director General in charge of Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Park, the former speaker who serves as the head of the special envoy delegation, said, 'It is very meaningful to come to China as a presidential special envoy delegation on the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic relations,' and expressed hope that today's visit would serve as an opportunity to help normalize the recently complicated Korea-China relationship.
He added that 'the president places great importance on the Korea-China relationship and hopes to build a 'strategic cooperative partnership' that effectively contributes to the lives of the citizens of both countries,' while requesting the attendance of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the October Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
Minister Wang said, 'After the launch of the new Korean government, the leaders of both countries agreed to advance the strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level during their exchanges,' clarifying the direction for the next stage of development. He further stated, 'The two countries are currently in a crucial period of improvement and development in their relationship,' emphasizing that this special envoy's visit to China is very important and timely.
Starting with today's schedule, the special envoy delegation is expected to meet with Zhao Leji, Vice President of China and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, on the 26th, who is equivalent to the Speaker of the National Assembly of Korea and ranks third in the state's hierarchy.