China and South Korea to promote peace cooperation
The China-Republic of Korea Peace Diplomacy Forum in Seoul Photo: Zhang Wenyi/CHARHAR INSTITUTE
SEOUL—The 5th China-Republic of Korea (ROK) Peace Diplomacy Forum was held in early December in Seoul, South Korea. Over a hundred scholars explored new models of China-ROK cooperation in light of the changing Korean Peninsula.
Ahn Byung-young, mayor of Uijeongbu, said that this forum coincides with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to South Korea. China and South Korea strive to communicate, build friendship and solve problems peacefully, setting a global example.
Moon Hee-sang, speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, said that China can play a significant role in the Korean Peninsula when dilemmas are encountered on the way to peace. Korea’s peace progress will also improve peace and development in the whole Northeast Asia. We should jointly chart a course and seek out new directions for development.
On behalf of Qiu Guohong, Chinese ambassador to South Korea, Wang Luxin, minister counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in South Korea, said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met ahead of the G20 summit in the Japanese city of Osaka this June, and China-South Korea bilateral relations have made positive progress. During the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the two countries exchanged opinions on how to further develop bilateral relations. As relations receive new development opportunities, China is willing to work with South Korea, strengthening cooperation and exchanges in all areas and delivering real benefits to their peoples.
Han Fangming, chairman of the Charhar Institute, said that cooperation between China and South Korea has a rich basis in geographic conditions. In recent years, both sides have properly managed their differences and proactively and efficiently built up inclusive cooperation on political security, social development and cultural exchanges. However, we still face many obstacles in the construction of peace on the Korean Peninsula. More effective methods for overcoming pressures and promoting our cooperation on the Korean Peninsula issue are needed.
Lee Chang-hyung, senior research fellow from the Center for Security and Strategy at the Korean Institute for Defense Analyses, said that China can exert a positive influence in many respects, including persuading and guiding North Korea to stay on the path of denuclearization, positively mediating the US-North Korea negotiation and US-South Korea negotiation and creating a new economic environment for North Korea.
South Korea could also make efforts toward building a peaceful system for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Lee continued. During the process, South and North Korea, the US and China, as the important parties involved, should continue to discuss and negotiate to facilitate peace and prosperity.
Wang Chong, senior research fellow at the Charhar Institute, illustrated opportunities and challenges for the integration of China, Japan and South Korea from the perspective of the China-Japan-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement. He said that the construction of this area will largely improve the global advantages of industrial chains among these three countries in economic terms. If the agreement can be successfully reached, this free trade zone will join the North American Free Trade Agreement and the European Union to become one of the three poles of the world economy. However, for many years, many non-economic factors have hindered the construction of this area. A stable and prosperous Asia is hugely reliant on the close cooperation of China, Japan and South Korea. The foundation of China-South Korea relations is relatively solid, which can be regarded as a lubricant for bilateral relations and regional stability.
edited by NIU XIAOQIAN