Seoul, Beijing hold first talks since Xi’s takeover

Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, right, gestures during talks with Afghanistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Monday. / Yonhap

Seoul officials were in Beijing Monday for their first high-level meeting since the official appointment of China’s new leader Xi Jinping.

Vice Foreign Minister Ahn Ho-young and his Chinese counterpart Zhang Zhijun were slated to discuss security and other matters of mutual concern during the fifth Strategic Dialogue between the two sides, which will run through Tuesday.

The foreign ministry said the sides would “exchange views on ways to further develop bilateral strategic cooperative partnership as well as the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and international issues.”

Sources close to the talks said they were likely to include issues dealing with North Korea, China’s communist ally. Pyongyang has raised eyebrows amidst preparations for a possible long-range missile test.

The dialogue carries extra significance as it comes on the heels of Xi’s confirmation as the next leader, ministry officials said. Xi took the posts of head of the Communist Party leader as well as of the military commission earlier this month.

Analysts say that both countries are keen on improving ties in the coming years after thorny issues such as the treatment of South Korean detainees in China and North Korean provocations flared up despite important trade relations.

Both presidential contenders here have said they would like to strengthen ties with Beijing, which is Seoul’s top trading partner. China is also said to have the most leverage over the North. <The Korea Times/Kim Young-jin>