• In the first phone call between Wang Yi and Cho Tae-yul, Beijing vows to uphold ‘stability and continuity’ in its South Korea policy
• The two also agreed to accelerate preparations for a summit between China, South Korea and Japan, according to Seoul

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul was sworn in on January 12 and this week talked for the first time with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

In a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang said China would uphold “stability and continuity” in its South Korea policy, while calling on Seoul to have a “positive, objective and friendly” policy towards Beijing.

“China maintains stability and continuity in its policy towards South Korea, and always regards South Korea as an important cooperative partner,” Wang said.

“We hope that South Korea will pursue a positive, objective and friendly policy towards China, abide by the one-China principle, safeguard the political foundation of China-South Korea relations, and push bilateral relations back to a healthy and stable development track.”

Cho, who was sworn in on January 12, has already spoken with his counterparts from the United States, Japan, Australia and Vietnam.

His predecessor, Park Jin, held a video call with Wang four days after entering office but Cho’s call with Wang could not be scheduled earlier because of the Chinese minister’s busy schedule, including trips to Africa and Thailand last month, according to South Korean media.

China’s ties with its East Asian neighbour have been strained in recent years over Seoul’s closer alignment with the US, North Korea’s increasing military ambition and President Yoon Suk-yeol’s controversial remarks about Taiwan, which Beijing sees as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary.

Most countries, including South Korea and the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the island by force and is committed to arming Taiwan.

According to Beijing’s statement, Cho said the “one-China” position of the country had not changed. Seoul, unlike other allies such as the US and Japan, did not congratulate president-elect William Lai Ching-te after Taiwan’s elections last month.

According to a statement from Seoul’s foreign ministry, Wang invited Cho to Beijing for a visit and the South Korean minister agreed to do so “at a mutually convenient time”.