Overview

• On Oct. 7, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed to pursue a “new turning point” in relations tied to the Oct. 31–Nov. 1 APEC summit in Gyeongju.
• The two discussed possible visits to South Korea by Wang and President Xi Jinping for the summit period, though no plans have been announced.
• Wang outlined China’s efforts for regional peace and stability, and Cho urged that Beijing’s ties with Pyongyang support Korean Peninsula denuclearization.
• The call followed North Korean state media announcing Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Pyongyang this week for events marking the ruling party’s 80th anniversary.
• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump and Xi will hold a pull-aside meeting in South Korea later this month, signaling additional sideline diplomacy around APEC.