INTUSK MAGAZINE

Along with discussing Taiwan concerns with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Chinese Premier Li Qiang also agreed to continue free trade discussions and begin a diplomatic and security conversation with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday. 

The day before the first summit between the three Asian neighbours in almost four years, the presidents had bilateral talks in Seoul.

Citing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and global economic uncertainty, Yoon advised Li that South Korea and China should collaborate not just to advance shared interests based on mutual respect but also on regional and global problems to overcome common difficulties.

Yoon stated that another spy satellite launch employing intercontinental ballistic missile technology is about to occur and urged China to take on a more active role as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, particularly in light of North Korea's ongoing development of nuclear weapons and increased military cooperation with Russia.

Li advised Yoon that both nations should resist transforming trade and economic disputes into security or political ones and should endeavour to keep stable supply chains, according to Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency.

China, according to Li, was prepared to step up collaboration in a number of areas, including biomedicine, artificial intelligence, new energy, and luxury manufacturing.

China will further expand market access, strengthen guarantees for foreign investment, and welcome more South Korean companies do business in the country, he said. In a separate meeting with Samsung Chairman Jay Y. Lee, Li encouraged the Korean tech giant to boost its investment in China.