(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on May 28)

The leaders of South Korea, Japan and China pledged to enhance security and economic cooperation during a landmark summit held in Seoul, Monday. President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang adopted a joint statement emphasizing the importance of trilateral cooperation for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, with a particular focus on addressing North Korea's nuclear ambitions. The revival of the summit, the first in over four years since the last meeting in Chengdu, China, comes at a critical time due to significant global and regional developments. Close consultation among the three countries is vital to effectively tackle the urgent issues that impact the region. A central theme of the summit revolved around the Seoul-Beijing relationship, which holds considerable significance for regional security and broader geopolitical dynamics, including those involving the U.S., Russia, and North Korea. The meeting between Yoon and Li stoo d out notably within this framework. Seoul and Beijing agreed to set up a high-level diplomatic and security dialogue and resume the second stage of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, which have been stalled since 2017. The two nations also agreed to open a dialogue channel involving government officials to discuss easing China's import curbs on Korean products and possible disruptions in global supply chains. After lying dormant for 13 years, an investment cooperative body will be revived, with ministerial-level participation from both sides. The resumption of the second stage of FTA talks holds particular significance, given that they were previously suspended due to China's retaliatory measures against South Korea following the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery. China, having initiated the proposal to resume these talks, should demonstrate its sincerity in the dialogue process. South Korea's First Deputy Director of National Security Kim Tae-hyo highlighted t hat the security dialogue would engage officials at the vice minister and director levels from the foreign affairs and defense ministries, respectively, alongside their Chinese counterparts. This initiative signifies a commitment to substantive security discussions extending beyond economic agendas. Seoul-Beijing relations improved rapidly since they established diplomatic ties in 1992 under the principle of separating economic and security issues. Chinese President Xi Jinping demonstrated his prioritization of Beijing's South Korea policy by visiting Seoul in 2013 ahead of his visit to Pyongyang. But bilateral relations have turned sour drastically since the deployment of THAAD. The neighboring nations recognize the growing need to normalize their relations amid the increasing integration of security and economic issues exemplified by the intensifying global competition over supply chains and technology. The future of Seoul-Beijing relations largely depends on China's sincerity. Despite the recent diploma tic engagements, China has yet to ease its hostile policies against South Korea in areas such as culture, travel and trade. China's alignment with North Korea, despite Pyongyang's repeated violations of U.N. violations, has been a core issue. Growing concerns surround North Korea's potential military provocations, heightened by China and Russia's actions hindering the U.N. experts' group tasked with monitoring the North's sanctions violations. Within this context, Yoon's appeal for China to serve as a "bastion of peace" in its role on the U.N. Security Council is both fitting and timely. Seoul and Beijing must deepen their cooperation to ensure the safety and foster the development of their bilateral relations. The recent summit should serve as a cornerstone for mitigating risks and fluctuations in the bilateral relationship, while actively pursuing feasible and concrete measures to enhance their economic and security ties. To this end, diplomatic authorities from the two countries should double down on ef forts to facilitate a visit by the Chinese president to Seoul, which would further solidify the progress made at the summit. Source: Yonhap News Agency