South Korea, China agree to launch diplomatic and security dialogue

Seoul, Tokyo also hold talks ahead of 3-way summit amid Beijing-Washington rivalry

- 

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang agreed on May 26 to launch a diplomatic and security dialogue and resume talks on a free trade agreement, Mr Yoon's office said.

Mr Yoon and Mr Li held talks a day ahead of a summit with their Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, their first three-way talks in more than four years.

China and the US-allied South Korea and Japan are trying to manage rising distrust amid the rivalry between Beijing and Washington and tensions over Taiwan.

Expectations are low for the trilateral summit, but even handshakes would help maintain at least some high-level diplomacy after years of deteriorating ties, diplomats and officials say.

The leaders could make progress in areas of practical cooperation like people-to-people exchanges and consular matters, they said.

Mr Yoon told Mr Li that South Korea and China should work together not only to promote shared interests based on mutual respect, but also on regional and global issues to tackle common challenges, citing the Ukraine war, the IsraelHamas conflict and global economic uncertainties.