President Moon Jae-in, who is currently making an official visit to Germany, and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a summit in Berlin this morning. They discussed issues of mutual interest in depth, including Korea-China ties and the recent developments surrounding the Korean Peninsula.

During their 75-minute summit, which was originally scheduled for 40 minutes, the two Presidents engaged in sincere, frank and open discussions. They were greatly gratified by their first meeting, at which they had heart-to-heart discussions. The two leaders shared a common understanding that a close bond and a relationship of trust would go a long way toward elevating the strategic, cooperative partnership between the two countries.

The two heads of state agreed to carry on an additional in-depth dialogue when President Moon visits China at a mutually convenient time. President Moon asked for President Xi’s visit to Korea on the occasion of the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games.

They also reached an agreement to continue reciprocal visits and dialogues between officials at various levels, including the heads of state.

The two Presidents held a common view on how crucial Korea-China ties were to each another. They concurred on the need to upgrade the strategic, cooperative partnership to a new height based on mutual understanding and respect marking the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and China. President Moon stressed that the two countries had historically achieved co-prosperity when they had had a good relationship.

The two Presidents had candid discussions even on issues on which the two countries held different views. The two leaders came to an agreement to enhance communication on these matters through various channels, including a high-level dialogue.

In this connection, President Moon pointed out that economic, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations have actually been on the wane due to various constraints. Noting that if the current situation persisted, it would not be helpful in promoting relations between the two nations and the relationship between the two peoples, President Moon requested President Xi`s interest in and support for revitalizing exchanges and cooperation in various sectors.

Saying that he could not help but take into consideration the interest and concerns of his people, President Xi expressed the hope that bilateral exchanges and cooperation would get back on the right track and be expanded to a new height.

With regard to North Korea`s test-firing of a ballistic missile rated to have advanced the most so far, the two Presidents shared a common understanding that its possession of a missile with a nuclear warhead would pose a threat to stability and peace not only in both nations but on the whole Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. The two leaders also agreed in principle that the two nations would make joint efforts to fundamentally address this issue. 

Stressing that the international community needed to induce changes in North Korea’s attitude through sanctions and pressure and, at the same time, make every effort to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully, President Moon asked China, which is holding the U.N. Security Council presidency in July, to play an active role.

President Moon took note of the fact that the latest missile provocation took place right before the G20 Summit. Despite the fact that the G20 Summit was a venue to discuss economic issues, the President proposed to seek ways for participating heads of state and government to express their resolve to make concerted efforts for the peaceful resolution of the issue through sanctions and pressure against and, at the same time, dialogue with the North.    

Expressing a mutual understanding that the missile launch was a grave incident, President Xi said he would cooperate in drawing up a shared response among participating leaders at the G20 Summit. In addition, President Xi said he would have close consultations with countries at the U.N. Security Council level and try to come up with a range of appropriate measures.

In the meantime, President Xi expressed his support for President Moon’s taking the lead in efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula by restoring dialogue and easing tensions between the two Koreas. President Xi also expressed the hope that the two Koreas would be able to build the foundation of a self-reliant and peaceful unification through reconciliation and cooperation based on trust and patience.