By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul hosted luncheon for Mr. Hao Peng, Secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China who was visiting Korea on April 24. 

Over the luncheon, the two sides exchanged views on ways to enhance substantive cooperation between Korea and Liaoning Province, among other topics.

Minister Cho welcomed Secretary Hao's visit to Korea as the first of its kind by a Chinese provincial secretary since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized the crucial role of enhanced exchanges between provinces of Korea and China which could help complement the development of the relations between the central governments of the two countries. 

Minister Cho went on to say that the two countries should use Secretary Hao's visit as an opportunity to sustain their momentum of high-level exchanges. He suggested that the two countries take one step at a time to advance their relations in a healthy and future-oriented direction on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity, and mutual benefits, in line with the joint understanding reached between President Yoon Suk Yeol and President Xi Jinping in November 2022.

Minister Cho appreciated the leadership of Secretary Hao in addressing obstacles facing Korean companies in Liaoning Province* which allowed them to carry out smooth business activities. 

He expressed hope that Secretary Hao will continue efforts to foster a stable and predictable investment environment, while also asking for his cooperation to ensure stable supply chains of raw materials amidst the evolving geopolitical landscape where economic, security, and technology factors intersect. 

Minister Cho added that while efforts are necessary to manage risks stemming from over-reliance on specific countries, there is no intention to pursue decoupling from China in terms of supply chains. On that note, he emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to minimize the challenges that geopolitical shifts pose to Korea-China relations. 

Additionally, he requested Liaoning Province’s cooperation to avoid any inconveniences for Korean residents in their daily lives, as well as its sustained attention regarding the preservation and management of the Korean historical sites** within Liaoning Province. 

Furthermore, Minister Cho asked Liaoning Province to undertake crackdowns and other proactive measures to eradicate illegal fishing activities by Chinese vessels in the waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea.