From November 21 to 25, 2024, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation on a working visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK). During this visit, Yang attended the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Seoul Conference held in Seoul at the invitation of Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the BFA, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future.
In his speech at the conference, Yang Wanming elaborated on China's philosophies and proposals, including building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Belt and Road Initiative. Yang emphasized that under current global conditions, advancing towards a shared future for humanity requires efforts in three key dimensions: enhancing confidence, building consensus, and expanding mutual trust. He urged all parties to view the current and future world with a broader vision and a more open mind and have confidence in the future of the world. To foster a fairer, more orderly, and more inclusive international environment, which is a common expectation of all parties, consensus should be forged on upholding multilateralism, supporting the role of the United Nations and improving global governance. People-to-people diplomacy plays a significant role in fostering consensus. The CPAFFC will build more bridges of people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultrual exchanges and youth friendship, and work with all parties to move towards a future featuring people-to-people connectivity, sustainable development, harmonious coexistence, and ever-lasting friendship.
During the conference, Yang Wanming met with Ban Ki-moon for an in-depth discussion on strengthening exchanges and cooperation between the CPAFFC and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation in areas such as youth exchanges, climate change, and sustainable development. Yang also attended the welcome banquet hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI).
During his visit, Yang Wanming held separate meetings with several key figures, including Chung Byung-won, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROK; Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City; and Kim Byung-min, Deputy Mayor of Seoul Metropolitan Government. Yang also held working talks with Shin Jung-seung, President of the South Korea-China Friendship Association; Seo Cheong-won, President of the Korea-China Friendship Association; Lee Jong-kook, Executive Vice-President of the Korea Foundation; Qu Huan, Head of the Korea China Association for Cultural Exchange; Chung Ku-chong, Chairman of the Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange Council; Lee Hee-sup, Secretary-General of the TCS; and Fang Kun, Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in the ROK. These discussions covered China-ROK relations, people-to-people friendship, and exchanges and cooperation in public opinion and culture and among think tanks, young people, and subnational entities, which led to positive consensus on future cooperation. Yang also participated in activities related to the China-Republic of Korea (ROK) Affinity Cultural Festival in Suwon City, themed "Korean Traditional Culture and Kashgar Charms".
Yang Wanming emphasized that China and the ROK are important neighbors and cooperative partners. Over the past 32 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the relationship between the two countries has seen rapid growth, with fruitful exchanges and cooperation in multiple fields, delivering tangible benefits to both countries and their peoples. At present, with joint efforts from the two governments and people from all sectors, China-ROK relations are showing a positive trend of improvement and development. Yang highlighted the recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and ROK President Yoon Suk-yeol on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru. The two leaders reached an important consensus on promoting the sound and steady development of the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership, setting the direction for the long-term development of bilateral relations and all-around exchanges and cooperation. President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to engage in activities that enhance friendship and intensify exchanges in areas such as media, academia, sub-national governance, and especially among youth. Yang pledged that the CPAFFC would act on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, take advantage of opportunities such as the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held in the ROK in 2025, and continue to carry out initiatives to enhance friendship and expand cooperation between the two countries. The CPAFFC will work ceaselessly to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in cultural, media and academic areas and among subnational entities and young people, in a bid to cement public support for the sustainable improvement and development of China-ROK relations.
Participants from sectors of society on the ROK side said that as important neighbors, the development of friendly relations between the ROK and China is of great immediate and far-reaching significance. It is encouraging that the two heads of state successfully met in Lima and reached an important consensus on developing ROK-China relations and promoting people-to-people exchanges. They expressed the readiness to take this opportunity to build on the sound momentum and work with the CPAFFC to enrich the contents of institutional exchange programs between the two sides, break new ground, attract more young people to participate, and continue to deepen friendly exchanges and practical cooperation, contributing to the development of ROK-China relations.
