(LEAD) Chinese FM Wang Yi to visit S. Korea this week: foreign ministry

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Arrives in Seoul for Two-Day Visit

SEOUL — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, according to South Korea's foreign ministry. The visit, at the invitation of South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, is expected to focus on advancing bilateral relations and addressing issues related to the Korean Peninsula.

Schedule and Meetings

Wang Yi is set to hold talks and a dinner with Foreign Minister Cho on Wednesday. The two are expected to exchange views on bilateral ties, Korean Peninsula issues, and regional and global affairs, according to Seoul's foreign ministry.

On Thursday, Wang is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Lee Jae Myung at Cheong Wa Dae, where they will discuss the development of Seoul-Beijing relations and regional security, the presidential office said. At that meeting, the president is also expected to convey his greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac will hold a separate meeting and luncheon with Wang on Thursday to discuss issues of mutual interest, including the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and other international issues.

Context of the Visit

The visit comes after South Korea and the United States scaled back joint military drills. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he ordered the changes because of his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and he has signaled his willingness to meet Kim again.

China, North Korea's only formal treaty ally, has not commented directly on Trump's remarks. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated Beijing's long-standing position on the Korean Peninsula at a regular news briefing on Wednesday.

"Maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and promoting the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue is in the common interests of all parties," Lin said when asked about Trump's intervention to shorten the U.S.-South Korean military drills.

Diplomatic Initiatives

Speaking in parliament earlier on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Cho said he expected to discuss Korean Peninsula issues with Wang, including recent developments surrounding the military exercises. Cho also said the Foreign Ministry was pursuing a summit between President Lee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled in Shenzhen later this year.

The visit also follows President Lee's proposal for multilateral talks involving parties to the 1950-53 Korean War to establish a lasting peace on the peninsula. Lee is expected to attend the APEC summit in November.