Xinhua says Li hopes to fast-track second phase of Korea-China FTA negotiations

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Qiang ahead of their talks at the Bangchuidao Hotel in Dalian, China, on Tuesday. [Office of the Prime Minister]
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Qiang ahead of their talks at the Bangchuidao Hotel in Dalian, China, on Tuesday. [Office of the Prime Minister]

The prime ministers of South Korea and China met Tuesday in Dalian, China, agreeing to improve bilateral relations and expand economic cooperation. It was the first meeting between the two countries' premiers since 2019, when then-Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks — a gap of seven years.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who is visiting China, opened the talks at the Bangchuidao Hotel in Dalian that afternoon by saying the two countries "must elevate exchanges to a higher level — not only in politics, but also in economics, culture and youth exchange."

Kim said Tuesday's meeting "holds significance as a stepping stone for political engagement that should continue following the summit between the two countries' leaders," adding that it would serve as "an opportunity to further consolidate the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries at a new level."

Kim led preparations for last year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju. He also expressed hope that this year's APEC events in Shenzhen, China, would be "well prepared and become an outstanding APEC that serves as a model for the world."

Li, in his own opening remarks, said China "is willing to work with South Korea to strengthen mutual trust under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, and to sincerely and continuously expand the breadth and depth of cooperation."

He added that China hopes "to develop the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership in a positive and stable direction, and to achieve prosperity and stability in the region."

Chinese state media said Li stressed the potential for cooperation in economic areas including trade and innovation.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Li said China wants to work with South Korea to use mechanisms such as the bilateral economic ministers' meeting to "swiftly advance" the second phase of Korea-China free trade agreement negotiations, and to expand the scope and improve the quality of bilateral trade.

Li also said the two countries "each have their own strengths in innovation, and their industrial chains and value chains are deeply intertwined." He identified semiconductors, AI, new energy and biopharmaceuticals as key emerging industries for cooperation, alongside tourism, education, local government exchanges, youth, media and think tanks.

Xinhua said Kim also expressed support for advancing the second phase of FTA negotiations and welcomed Chinese companies to invest and conduct business in South Korea.

The South Korean delegation included First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yun-ju, Northeast and Central Asia Bureau Director Nam Jin, Ambassador to China Noh Jae-heon and Prime Minister's diplomatic adviser Kwon Won-jik.

The Chinese delegation included Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing, Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Lecheng and Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.


quq@heraldcorp.com