On September 17, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Cho Hyun in Beijing.

Wang Yi welcomed Foreign Minister Cho Hyun's first visit to China, noting that since President Lee Jae-myung took office, the two heads of state have had a phone conversation and reached important common understandings on advancing the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level. Both sides should uphold the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, remain committed to the direction of good-neighborliness and friendship, stick to the goal of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and be true strategic cooperative partners.

Wang Yi emphasized that China and the ROK are neighbors that cannot be moved away. As an ancient Chinese saying goes, "All living things may grow side by side without harming one another, and different roads may run in parallel without interfering with one another." The development history of bilateral relations shows that good-neighborliness and friendship, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and focusing on cooperation are the right choices. Noting that China's policy towards the ROK remains stable and consistent, Wang Yi expressed the hope that both sides will treat each other with sincerity, strengthen mutual trust, deepen cooperation, achieve win-win results, and properly handle sensitive issues. China and the ROK are both beneficiaries of economic globalization. In the current situation where unilateralism and bullying acts are rampant, the two countries should jointly oppose trade protectionism and uphold the international free trade system. Recently, an ROK Coast Guard officer gave his life in the line of duty to save a Chinese national. China expresses condolences for his unfortunate passing and extends sympathies to his family. In June this year, a driver in China's Zhangjiajie gave his life after guarding the safety of more than 10 ROK passengers, which also drew appreciation and remembrance in the ROK society. There are many such touching stories between China and the ROK, which are worth discovering and promoting to continuously enhance the friendship between the peoples of both countries.

Wang Yi stated that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. At this special historical juncture, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative, offering China's solution and contributing China's wisdom to strengthening and improving global governance. China is ready to work with the international community, including the ROK, to remember history and honor the fallen heroes, safeguard the outcomes of the victory in World War II, uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, and make the international order more just and equitable.

Cho Hyun extended congratulations on the complete success of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and highly praised China's significant contributions to the victory of World War II. Cho Hyun stated that the ROK attaches great importance to its relations with China. President Lee Jae-myung had a successful phone conversation with President Xi Jinping, reaffirming the importance of ROK-China relations and outlining plans for future development. The ROK values the momentum of improvement in bilateral relations and is willing to work with China to implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state, and take the opportunity of hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju to further enhance high-level interactions, deepen exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, culture and other fields, and accelerate negotiations on the ROK-China and ROK-China-Japan free trade agreements. The ROK respects the one-China position and looks forward to strengthening bilateral and multilateral communication and coordination with China to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

The two sides agreed to coordinate with and support each other in successfully hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meetings in the current and coming years.