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지나쌤

Moon says his visit to China laid groundwork for normalizing relations with Beijing

By Yonhap

Published : Dec. 18, 2017 - 16:38

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President Moon Jae-in said Monday that his visit to China laid the groundwork for normalizing frayed relations with the neighboring country.

"The visit to China produced substantial achievements in that it laid the groundwork for all-out normalization of relations and cooperation not only in the economic sectors, but also in political and security areas, such as Korean Peninsula denuclearization and four major principles for building peace on the peninsula," Moon said during a meeting with senior secretaries.

"I would like to attach great meaning in that through this visit to China, we finished urgent homework in our diplomacy," he said. "South Korea and China were able to establish a solid and mature strategic cooperative partnership that is not shaken by external factors."

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with senior secretaries on Dec. 18. (Yonhap) President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with senior secretaries on Dec. 18. (Yonhap)

Moon held his third summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

During the meeting, the two leaders agreed on four basic principles in dealing with North Korea's nuclear threat: No war on the Korean Peninsula, denuclearization of the peninsula, peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue and improvement in inter-Korean relations.

They also agreed to expand economic and other cooperation.

Meanwhile, Moon also called for measures to increase employment among younger people.

"Our economy's macroeconomic indicators are improving, with this year's growth rate rising to over 3 percent and the employment rate improving," Moon said. "But as the number of those in their late 20s entering the job market rises sharply, the issue of youth employment still remains unresolved."