Chinese, South Korean leaders agree to increase cooperation to revitalise economies, fight Covid-19

Neighbours should ‘strengthen communication and coordination under multilateral systems … to push forward anti-pandemic cooperation’, Xi Jinping tells Moon Jae-in ahead of planned visit later this year

Seoul keen to ‘deepen communication … for a more united international community’, South Korean president says

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in have agreed to boost cooperation. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:30pm, 14 May 2020Updated: 10:57pm, 14 May 2020

China and South Korea have agreed to boost cooperation to revive their economies and support the global effort to find a vaccine for the coronavirus after largely bringing the deadly pathogen under control in their respective territories.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in in a telephone call on Wednesday that the Asian giants should work together on pharmaceutical research and vaccine development.

“China is willing to continue to work with South Korea on pandemic prevention and control … and support the World Health Organisation,” Xi was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Chinese foreign ministry.

The two sides should also “strengthen communication and coordination under multilateral systems such as the United Nations, Group of 20 … to push forward bilateral and international anti-pandemic cooperation” and increase strategic cooperation in areas of shared interest, such as regional stability and global trade.

“I highly value China’s relations with South Korea and I am willing to strengthen strategic communication with you to lead Sino-South Korean relations to a higher level,” Xi said.

Moon said that South Korea was also keen to deepen communication with China for a more united international community and closer bilateral ties, the statement said.

South Korea has largely brought the coronavirus under control at home and, like China, is now keen to revive its economy. Photo: AFP

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