S. Korea, China set to launch annual high-level talks

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and China will hold their inaugural "strategic dialogue" between vice foreign ministers of the two countries next month in Beijing to exchange views on the incoming U.S. administration and the North Korean nuclear issue, officials here said Thursday.

South Korea, which holds similar annual talks with the U.S. and Japan to discuss
bilateral and global issues, agreed with China to launch the strategic dialogue
in a summit between their presidents in May. The talks are part of wider efforts
to upgrade Seoul-Beijing relations, which were formally established in 1992.
"There is consensus on holding the first strategic dialogue in December in
Beijing, but a date has yet to be fixed," a Foreign Ministry official said.
"Preparations are under way."
He emphasized the importance of the first meeting between Vice Foreign Minister
Kwon Jong-rak and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Guangya.
"We will try to listen to China's position on various issues and fully explain
our stance," the official said.
High on the agenda will be ways of improving the two countries' ties, the North
Korean nuclear crisis and strategic approaches to the incoming administration
under President-elect Barack Obama, he added.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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