Seoul (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun plans to visit China this week and is expected to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The Yonhap News Agency reported on Sunday.
According to the report, discussion on the prospect of Chinese President Xi Jinping attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea is expected to be raised amongst other issues during Cho’s visit to Beijing. It would be Cho’s first visit to China since being appointed foreign minister in June.
U.S. President Donald Trump is also set to visit South Korea for the APEC summit in Gyeongju, starting from 31 October. Last month, Trump had informed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung that he intends to meet Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, this year. Lee had invited Trump to the APEC meeting at the time and suggested he try to meet with Kim during his Asia trip, according to Lee’s office.
How might China influence North Korea’s stance on dialogue?
South Korea has urged China to play a constructive role in encouraging North Korea to engage in dialogue over its nuclear programme.
On the other hand, China’s Xi joined Kim for a military parade this month and held a separate meeting with the North Korean leader, their first in six years. Beijing’s official statement on the Xi-Kim talks made no mention of “denuclearisation” of the Korean Peninsula for the first time in years, a move some analysts called a significant concession to Kim.
The last engagement between the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun took place on a telephone call on July 26, 2025. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has used his first official phone call with his new South Korean counterpart to call on Seoul to oppose “decoupling” and to pursue an independent foreign policy.
During this meeting, they discussed a range of issues, including Korea-China relations and regional security, reaffirming their commitment to strategic communication and cooperation.
When did Xi Jinping last visit South Korea?
Chinese President Xi Jinping last travelled to South Korea from July 3 to July 4, 2014, his first trip to South Korea since taking office in the previous year, and a key turning point in
China-South Korea relations. This short yet productive trip allowed Xi to meet with then South Korean President Park Geun-hye in Seoul, to discuss strengthening the bilateral relationship, regional peace, and economic cooperation.
