Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Seoul to discuss Korean Peninsula developments after Seoul and Washington scaled back joint military exercises following President Trump's bid to revive diplomacy with Kim Jong Un. Wang met Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and is set to meet President Lee Jae Myung and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac. Beijing urged the U.S. to change its "hostile policy" toward Pyongyang and emphasized the need for a political settlement and stability on the peninsula. Seoul is pursuing a Lee–Xi summit on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Shenzhen.
Wang Yi Visits Seoul After US Scales Back Drills — China Urges Shift In US Policy Toward Pyongyang
FILE PHOTO: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during the Opening Statement of the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with China, at the Philippine International Convention Centre in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 22, 2026. ROLEX DELA PENA/Pool via REUTERS /File Photo
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for talks with South Korean officials after Seoul and Washington agreed to scale back joint military exercises. The move followed U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that he ordered changes to the drills as part of efforts to revive diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Wang began meetings with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun shortly after landing. Cho told Parliament earlier that discussions would focus on issues affecting the Korean Peninsula, including recent developments tied to the military exercises.
Trump said he curtailed the exercises because of his "very good relationship" with Kim and signalled he is open to further meetings with the North Korean leader. China, Pyongyang's only formal treaty ally, has not directly commented on Trump's remarks. In Seoul, however, Wang urged Washington to change what he described as a "hostile policy" toward Pyongyang, Yonhap reported.
At a separate briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and promoting a political settlement "is in the common interests of all parties" when asked about the U.S. decision to curtail the drills.
SOUTH KOREA Pursuing Lee–Xi Summit
The South Korean presidential office said Wang is scheduled to meet President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday and will hold talks and a luncheon with National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac. Cho also told Parliament that the Foreign Ministry is actively pursuing a summit between President Lee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen later this year.
President Lee has proposed multilateral talks involving parties to the 1950–53 Korean War to explore ways to establish a lasting peace on the peninsula. He is expected to attend the APEC summit in Shenzhen in November.
"China is South Korea's most important neighbouring country," Wang said in opening remarks to Cho, adding Beijing would "make efforts that we rightfully should." "We also hope that South Korea and North Korea can gradually pursue opportunities for peace and coexistence," he added, expressing a wish for lasting stability and development on the Korean Peninsula.
Cho said he hoped the restoration of relations between South Korea and China would contribute to regional peace and stability, including on the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap reported.
(Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim in Seoul and Ethan Wang in Beijing; Editing by Ed Davies and Saad Sayeed)
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