Claiming it won't have to choose sides, how confident is South Korea in its relationship with the US and China?

On November 18, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to work closely with both the United States and China as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House.

South Korea hopes the US and China will develop relations in a constructive direction. (Source: Shutters stock)

In an interview with Brazilian newspapers Folha de S.Paulo and O Globo during his visit to Rio de Janeiro to attend the G20 Summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol said: "For Korea, the United States and China are very important cooperation partners. Therefore, I do not believe that this is a case of choosing one country or the other."

Expressing hope that US-China relations will move forward in a direction that contributes to the stability and development of the international community, Mr. Yoon affirmed that South Korea will "work closely" with both countries in this process.

According to the leader, the South Korea-US alliance is the country's diplomatic foundation, while Seoul also strives to maintain dialogue with Beijing and promote relations that contribute to regional peace and stability.

Since taking office in May 2022, Yoon Suk Yeol has strengthened the security alliance with Washington to counter growing threats from North Korea, while carefully managing relations with China, South Korea's largest trading partner.

As Donald Trump takes office as US President on January 20, 2025, Seoul remains "strongly confident" that the Korea-US alliance will continue to thrive and reach new heights under the new administration in Washington.

Previously, on November 15, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit week in Peru, President Yoon Seok Yeol and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a meeting that was considered a positive signal for improving bilateral relations.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed promoting cooperation in the economic and cultural fields. President Yoon Seok Yeol said China is an important country with which Korea wishes to cooperate closely in various fields, including security, economy, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Mr. Yoon Seok Yeol also emphasized that the two countries will significantly develop the strategic cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit for common interests.

For his part, President Xi Jinping proposed for the first time inviting President Yoon Seok Yeol to visit China, noting that both countries must contribute more to peace and stability in the region.

According to the Chinese leader, no matter how the international and regional situation changes, Beijing and Seoul will still adhere to the original goal of establishing diplomatic relations, moving in the direction of good neighborliness and friendship, and persisting in the goal of mutual benefit and coexistence.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tuyen-bo-se-khong-phai-chon-phe-han-quoc-tu-tin-vao-moi-quan-he-voi-my-va-trung-quoc-ra-sao-294257.html