South Korea and China on Monday discussed ways to strengthen their bilateral ties and cooperation on North Korea issues during their annual strategic talks in Beijing, the Foreign Ministry said.

The fifth Strategic Dialogue marked the first high-level meeting since Xi Jinping took the helm of the Chinese Communist Party last week, becoming the country’s de facto leader.

The two-day event also comes amid concerns that Pyongyang may be readying to fire a long-range ballistic missile. Washington has reportedly detected via satellite North Koreans moving related components to its Dongchang site where they have unsuccessfully launched rockets before.

In the meeting Ahn Ho-young, Seoul’s first vice foreign minister, and his Chinese counterpart Zhang Zhijun would exchange views on how to develop the bilateral relationship and the current situation around the Korean Peninsula and the globe, ministry spokesperson Cho Tai-young said.

“The dialogue is expected to be meaningful as it takes place shortly after China’s new leadership set sail,” he told a Thursday briefing.

During his trip, Ahn is scheduled to visit senior officials at the party’s international department, deliver a lecture at the state-run China Foreign Affairs University and attend a meeting with local experts on foreign relations, the ministry said. 

By Shin Hyon-hee
(heeshin@heraldcorp.com)