China foreign minister Wang Yi met South Korean foreign minister Zhao Xian in
Seoul on the 19th. Wang said China–South Korea economic ties are deep and
China’s large market gives Korean firms a proximity advantage. He urged
expanding and upgrading cooperation toward higher value‑added sectors,
highlighting AI, green transition, digital economy, high‑end equipment and the
silver economy as new growth areas, and called for accelerated second‑phase
negotiations of the China–South Korea free trade agreement. Wang also pushed for
closer coordination on regional and international issues to preserve regional
stability and promote a fairer global governance framework, and said China will
use this year’s informal APEC leaders’ meeting to work with partners including
South Korea to build an Asia‑Pacific community.