S. Korea, China to hold talks ahead of Park's planned visit

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- Senior diplomats from South Korea and China will hold their regular talks early next month with President Park Geun-hye's planned visit to Beijing expected to top the agenda, a foreign ministry official said Thursday. The vice ministerial-level "Strategic Dialogue," the sixth of its kind, will be held in Beijing on June 3, the official said on the condition of anonymity, adding that First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun will attend the talks. South Korea has been in talks with China to set up a summit between Park and Chinese President Xi Jinping for late June, Seoul's presidential officials said. "The upcoming Korea-China Strategic Dialogue is expected to focus on preparing for President Park Geun-hye's first visit to China," the official said. The trip to China will be Park's second overseas trip since taking office in February. In early May, she visited the United States and held summit talks with President Barack Obama, where they reaffirmed that the two countries are firmly united against threats from North Korea. Park has said she would visit China at the earliest possible date. North Korea is expected to be a key topic for the first summit between Park and Xi. Beijing is considered the only country with any meaningful influence over Pyongyang as a key provider of economic assistance and diplomatic support. China is also South Korea's largest trading partner. kdh@yna.co.kr (END)