Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday he hopes South Korea will firmly pursue a friendly policy towards China and take the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year as an opportunity to make greater progress in the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership.

Wang made the remarks when meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Seoul.

The foreign minister said as an important force for maintaining world peace, China consistently advocates the political settlement of international and regional conflicts through dialogue, and that it's also a major stabilising force for the world.

Lee said stronger strategic cooperation between Beijing and Seoul serves the fundamental interests of both countries and is important for regional peace and stability.

On ways to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Wang stressed the need to address the root causes of the issue and to push for the United States to abandon its hostile policy towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as he met Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's top presidential national security advisor.

The foreign minister called on all parties to do more to facilitate the resumption of dialogue and restoration of mutual trust.

Also on Thursday, South Korea's military said the DPRK launched a barrage of ballistic missiles towards the sea as joint US-South Korea military exercises were being held.

Seoul said it has bolstered its surveillance posture and was closely coordinating information on the launches with Japan and the US.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said he has no information about the engagement between Washington and Pyongyang, on reports that US President Donald Trump could meet DPRK leader Kim Jong Un later this year.

Trump earlier ordered joint US-South Korea drills be scaled back. (Xinhua and agencies)


Edited by Edmond Fong