SKorea, Chi to strengthen ties despite differences

Seoul, Oct 31: South Korea and Chi on Tuesday said they wanted to normalise and improve bilateral ties despite disagreement over a controversial US anti-missile system installed in Seoul which is criticised by Beijing.

“The two sides have emphasised the great importance of South Korea-Chi link and have decided to promote further development of their strategic relationship and cooperation,” a joint statement released by the Seoul Foreign Ministry said.

It also highlighted that both countries share the vision that strengthening exchanges and cooperation serves common interests and the countries have thus agreed to reorient them quickly to their normal course in all areas, reports Efe news.

This is the greatest gesture of rapprochement between the two countries since Chi, Seoul’s main trading partner, started a covert boycott of South Korean interests in retaliation for the installation of the Termil High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) missile system.

The boycott has hit South Korean companies, some of which were even forced to stop operating in Chi, and has adversely affected diplomatic ties despite the strong rapprochement shown by the two countries in the last five years.

The joint statement is the result of a meeting between the South Korean tiol Security Council vice chief m Gwan-pyo and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuan You.

As a token of this rapprochement the presidents of both countries, Moon Jae-in and Xi Jinping, will hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to be held from November 12 to 14 in Vietm. (IANS)

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