China, ROK 6-Party envoys to meet

Chinese and Republic of Korea chief delegates to the Six-Party Talks will meet to discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang confirmed on Thursday.

Kong Xuanyou, vice-foreign minister and China’s special representative on the Korean Peninsula affairs, will visit Seoul on Friday and Saturday and meet with his ROK counterpart Lee Do-hoon.

The meeting comes shortly after a cross-border communication hotline between Pyongyang and Seoul was reopened on Wednesday, after being shut down for about two years.

Pyongyang and Seoul have been exchanging positive messages to reduce hostility since the New Year. Pyongyang said it’s willing to send a delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Geng called for the international community to support the efforts by Pyongyang and Seoul and all related parties to do more to reduce tensions and enhance mutual trust.

China has always believed it is in line with the fundamental interests of Pyongyang and Seoul when they conduct talks for improvement of ties and reconciliation, Geng said.

Such talks will also help cool the situation on the peninsula, promote denuclearization and regional security, he added.

Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, said the meeting between Kong and Lee shows Beijing’s support for the positive development, as well as its hope for consolidating the momentum for peace.

Beijing and Seoul share the same interests when it comes to peace on the peninsula, and Kong’s visit will help turn the conciliatory signals into further action, Da said.

Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the 2018 Winter Olympics could provide a window of opportunity for peace on the peninsula.