ID :
194424
Tue, 07/12/2011 - 08:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/194424
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Defense Minister Kim to visit China this week
(LEAD) SEOUL, July 12 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin will visit China this week for a ministerial meeting on regional security and defense cooperation, the defense ministry here said Tuesday.
Kim will be in China from Thursday to Saturday and hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, Liang Guanglie. Kim will also pay a courtesy call to Vice President Xi Jinping and visit Chinese air force and army units.
The ministry said it is the eighth defense ministerial talks between the two. It is also the first visit to China by a South Korean defense minister in two years, and the first since two deadly North Korean provocations last year.
North Korea torpedoed the South Korean warship Cheonan in March and later shelled the border island of Yeonpyeong in November, killing 50 people in total. China, as the North's biggest ally and economic benefactor, has been asked by Seoul and Washington to use its influence on Pyongyang to dissuade its communist neighbor from engaging in further provocations and developing nuclear weapons.
China hasn't categorically blamed North Korea for attacks, and has instead called for dialogue to resolve the situation while South Korea and the U.S. have demanded a North Korean apology for its provocations.
"Ministers Kim and Liang will exchange their views on regional security, including North Korean issues, and will discuss strengthening their bilateral defense cooperation," the ministry said in a statement. "We expect their talks will help upgrade the 'strategic cooperative partnership' of the two countries."
The ministry also said the ministers will issue a joint press statement following their talks, the first of its kind following Seoul-Beijing defense talks.
Defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said the joint statement will signify that the two countries share a common understanding on issues and that they're willing to implement their agreement.
"The statement, in one form or another, will include words on keeping North Korean provocations in check," Kim said. He also said the statement would discuss increasing personnel exchanges and holding high-level strategic talks.
Kim will be in China from Thursday to Saturday and hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, Liang Guanglie. Kim will also pay a courtesy call to Vice President Xi Jinping and visit Chinese air force and army units.
The ministry said it is the eighth defense ministerial talks between the two. It is also the first visit to China by a South Korean defense minister in two years, and the first since two deadly North Korean provocations last year.
North Korea torpedoed the South Korean warship Cheonan in March and later shelled the border island of Yeonpyeong in November, killing 50 people in total. China, as the North's biggest ally and economic benefactor, has been asked by Seoul and Washington to use its influence on Pyongyang to dissuade its communist neighbor from engaging in further provocations and developing nuclear weapons.
China hasn't categorically blamed North Korea for attacks, and has instead called for dialogue to resolve the situation while South Korea and the U.S. have demanded a North Korean apology for its provocations.
"Ministers Kim and Liang will exchange their views on regional security, including North Korean issues, and will discuss strengthening their bilateral defense cooperation," the ministry said in a statement. "We expect their talks will help upgrade the 'strategic cooperative partnership' of the two countries."
The ministry also said the ministers will issue a joint press statement following their talks, the first of its kind following Seoul-Beijing defense talks.
Defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said the joint statement will signify that the two countries share a common understanding on issues and that they're willing to implement their agreement.
"The statement, in one form or another, will include words on keeping North Korean provocations in check," Kim said. He also said the statement would discuss increasing personnel exchanges and holding high-level strategic talks.
