President Yoon Seok-yeol’s Diplomatic Agenda
APEC Summit and Bilateral Meetings
President Yoon Seok-yeol recently attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where he engaged in a series of diplomatic discussions with world leaders. Following an informal conversation and working lunch at APEC Session I with invited countries, President Yoon is set to visit the UK on the 20th.
Although some had hoped for a Korea-China summit during the APEC summit, it did not come to fruition, sparking criticism from the opposition. However, the President’s Office maintains that there are no urgent issues between Korea and China at this time, and official talks are scheduled for the future. Despite this, there is a recognition of the importance of reviving relations with China and resolving any strained relations between the two countries.
Challenges and Priorities
According to an official from the President’s Office, the tight schedule of the APEC summit and other related engagements, such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, has led to the postponement of the Korea-China summit. China’s focus on other high-profile diplomatic events, including the US-China summit and the China-Japan summit, has also factored into the decision to prioritize these meetings over the Korea-China summit.
President Yoon Seok-yeol did have a brief meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they exchanged good wishes and expressed a desire to meet again in the future. The President also emphasized the importance of cooperation between Korea and China. Despite the lack of an official summit, both leaders affirmed their commitment to addressing pending issues through dialogue.
Upcoming Plans
After a brief stay in Korea, President Yoon will be embarking on a state visit to the UK before heading to Paris, France. In Paris, he will participate in diplomatic efforts to secure the hosting rights for the Busan Expo, ahead of the Institute for International Exhibitions (BIE) vote. This event holds significance for Korea’s international standing, and the President is committed to making final efforts to secure the hosting opportunity through various engagements and presentations.
As President Yoon continues his diplomatic engagements, the focus remains on strengthening international relations and addressing key bilateral and multilateral issues for the benefit of Korea and its global partners.
-Reporter Kim Bo-seon (sonntag@inews24.com)
President Yoon Seok-yeol greets Chinese President Xi Jinping before an informal conversation and working lunch with invited countries for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) APEC Session I held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on the 16th (local time). 2023.11.17. [사진=대통령실]
[아이뉴스24 김보선 기자] President Yoon Seok-yeol will visit the UK on the 20th following his attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. With this multilateral meeting, a series of talks were held between major countries, including the US-China summit and the China-Japan summit, but the much-anticipated Korea-China summit did not come. Regarding this, the opposition devalued the diplomatic achievements, saying, ‘I was the only one who failed to make the meeting happen.’
On the face of it, the position of the President’s Office is that there are no urgent issues between Korea and China, so official talks are scheduled for the next time, but reviving relations with China, including resolving the strained relations between Korea and China, remains a task. .
An official from the President’s Office said on the 19th, “Basically, the schedule for the three-day, two-night event was very tight, and there was not much time because not only the APEC summit but also the IPEF (Indo -) Pacific Economic Framework).” He continued, “There were many pending issues that must be resolved between the United States and China, including in the bilateral relationship and the global situation. There were also pending issues that must be resolved between Japan and China. Regarding Korea and China, the President recently met with Prime Minister Li Chang, and Prime Minister Han Deok-soo “Because we met with President Xi Jinping and had a conversation, the pressing issues between both countries have been resolved to some extent,” he explained.
Despite the tight schedule, it is analyzed that the Korea-China summit has been pushed to a later priority as China focuses all its diplomatic power on the US-China summit and continues the China-Japan summit.
President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is visiting the United States to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, celebrates with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Korea summit -USA-Japan held in the US presidential bilateral meeting hall at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on the 16th (local time). I am filming. 2023.11.17. [사진=대통령실]
During the APEC summit, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their second summit on the 15th (local time) a year after their first meeting at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia in November last year. The next day, President Xi had his first face-to-face meeting in a year with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The Korea-China summit, which was unclear until the end if it would take place, did not take place. President Yoon and President Xi met before the start of Session 1 of the APEC Summit on the 16th and had a short talk for about three minutes. The meeting between the two also took place a year after the Korea-China summit held on the sidelines of the G20 summit in November last year, but did not lead to an official meeting.
At the time, President Yoon expressed his good wishes by saying, “I hope this APEC will achieve good results,” and President Xi said, “I am confident of good results. I hope the Korea and China will cooperate with each other to achieve this.” In addition, when President Yoon said, “I am grateful to Prime Minister Han Deok-soo for welcoming me and showing me hospitality during the Hangzhou Asian Games,” President Xi responded, “I had a wonderful meeting with Prime Minister Han.”
The Democratic Party of Korea criticized, saying, “The US-China summit and the China-Japan summit were held, but the Korea-China summit failed. Am I the only one who is embarrassed by the failure of the Korea summit- China?”
Regarding this, an official from the President’s Office said, “Although this was a short meeting, we exchanged good wishes and promised to meet again next time, and the foreign ministers of the two countries are due to meet in the near future.” He added, “Basically, the pending issues that need to be resolved between Korea and China are adequately conveyed through dialogue.”
After staying in Korea for a day, President Yoon will return to the UK for a state visit on the 20th. After completing their visit to the UK, they plan to move to Paris, France, to take part in a last-minute diplomatic battle to host the Busan Expo ahead of the Institute for International Exhibitions (BIE) vote.
Regarding diplomacy at the Busan Expo, Presidential Office Spokesman Lee Do-woon said, “The President will make final efforts through a local BIE representative’s negotiation dinner, lunch, and National Day reception,” and added, “Before the BIE vote on the 28th, Korea will also be an influential figure in the international community. ” “I’m going to give this final presentation,” he said.
/Reporter Kim Bo-seon (sonntag@inews24.com)
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