Dai Bing, the Chinese ambassador to Korea, said on the 4th that there is progress in a good direction on the issue of structures in the Yellow Sea, a pending matter in Korea-China relations. Dai made the remark when asked about the issue while meeting with reporters at an open-house event at the Chinese Embassy in Korea in Myeong-dong, Seoul, held ahead of China's Lunar New Year.
He said, "President Lee Jae-myung successfully visited China, and the two leaders communicated well for a long time in Gyeongju and Beijing," adding, "Working-level officials of the two countries now have a responsibility to strengthen exchanges and carry out the leaders' consensus."
China recently moved a management facility—one of three structures it installed in the provisional measures zone (PMZ) where the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Korea and China overlap in the Yellow Sea—to the Chinese side outside the PMZ. Two other structures, which it claims are aquaculture facilities, remain in place and require further consultation.
On the so-called ban on the Korean wave, which restricts Korean culture, Dai said, "I think that expression is somewhat inaccurate and not appropriate." Chinese authorities have not officially acknowledged the ban on the Korean wave.
Dai said, "We seek to gradually promote beneficial and healthy cultural exchanges," adding, "As bilateral relations improve and public sentiment in both countries advances, we look forward to greater achievements in cultural exchanges between China and Korea."