Seoul rushes to reaffirm stable Beijing ties after FM calls China 'problematic'

The presidential office on Tuesday reaffirmed Korea's commitment to fostering stable ties with China that support regional stability, clarifying its stance after Foreign Minister Cho Hyun's reference to China as "problematic" drew backlash from Beijing. The swift response was seen as part of Seoul’s efforts to manage ties with China, amid growing speculation that Chinese President Xi Jinping may attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit which will take place in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in October and November. "We are working to advance Korea-China relations based on the solid foundation of the Korea-U.S. alliance," a senior presidential official said. "Minister Cho's remarks should be understood as an expression of Korea’s continued commitment to building a bilateral relationship that contributes to people's livelihoods, regional stability and prosperity, even if there are differences on certain issues," the official said. "He also emphasized to relevant countries the need for continued engagement with China." The presidential office’s comments came aWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times