China and South Korea prepare to restart strategic dialogue

ChairpersonChina's Xi Jinping with South Korean President Park Geun-hye (left). (Source: AFP/VNA)

South Korea's DongA Ilbo online newspaper reported on September 9 that China and South Korea are pushing to restart the Security-Diplomacy Strategic Dialogue between the two countries this September.

This is the next step to be taken under the agreement between the two countries on restarting the dialogue channel related to the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula, which was reached during the talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Park Geun-hye on September 2.

The newspaper quoted an unnamed South Korean government official as saying on September 8: "We are currently discussing with the Chinese side the schedule for the strategic dialogue between Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and South Korean National Security Adviser Kim Kwan Jin. If the schedule is adjusted, the dialogue could be held this September."

The official also emphasized: "From now on, the two countries will begin discussing the issue of peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula."

This is the main forum to exchange opinions on the timing and conditions for restarting the six-party talks mechanism to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

The forum, which was on hiatus since September 2007, was relaunched in June 2013 and has remained on hiatus since.

The topic of this dialogue as well as the venue are being considered by both sides./.

According to VN+