Vice FM asks new Chinese ambassador for his part in building better ties

▲ Chinese Ambassador-designate Dai Bing enters the foreign ministry building in Seoul on Dec. 30, 2024. (Yonhap)

vice FM-Chinese ambassador

Vice FM asks new Chinese ambassador for his part in building better ties

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun asked Chinese Ambassador-designate to South Korea Dai Bing on Monday to make efforts to help improve bilateral relations, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Kim made the call during his first in-person meeting with Dai, days after Dai arrived in Seoul to assume his new post that had been left vacant since his predecessor, Xing Haiming, departed in July.

Kim expressed hope that the two countries would continue exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summits, which will be consecutively hosted by the two neighboring countries in the next two years.

South Korea is next year's APEC host and China will host the 2026 summit.

Kim thanked China for its condolence message from Chinese President Xi Jinping over Sunday's deadly plane crash in Muan that killed 179 people.

Dai, in turn, expressed thanks to the Seoul government for the warm welcome, vowing to closely work with Seoul to help further develop the bilateral relationship.

Dai arrived in Seoul last Friday to take on his new role. He previously served as the deputy Chinese ambassador to the United Nations.

Speaking to reporters prior to the meeting, Dai stressed that bilateral relations should continue to move forward despite it being a "difficult time" in Korea.

"I know that it's a difficult time right now, but China will not intervene in (Korea's) state affairs," Dai said, as he entered the ministry building. "Although it's a difficult time, our relations cannot stop."

On the same day, Dai presented a copy of his credentials to a senior Seoul foreign ministry official, a diplomatic procedure required by a foreign envoy before formally presenting the credence to the host country's leader.

Once the letter of credence is received, the envoy is considered to have officially assumed office.

The credentials submitted by Dai reportedly show Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as the recipient. Han has also been impeached and suspended from duties and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has taken over as the acting president.

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