Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Seoul on Thursday, and the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation on regular epidemic prevention and control work and promote synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategies of the South Korean side.

Wang said that the bilateral relations will show even broader prospects after the test of the epidemic, adding that it has provided experience and set an example of cooperation for all countries in the world to unite against the epidemic.

Speaking of strengthening cooperation, Wang said China is willing to work with South Korea to launch the Year of Cultural Exchange between China and South Korea in 2021 and hold the Beijing Winter Olympic and the Winter Youth Olympic Games in South Korea.

China supports South Korea in hosting the annual China-Japan-South Korea leaders' meetings and accelerates China-Japan-South Korea free trade agreement negotiations, Wang said.

For his part, Moon said that South Korea looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in a wide range of areas, such as regional economic integration, climate change, and other global challenges.

Exchanging views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the two sides agreed to work together in playing constructive roles in the Korean Peninsula peace process.

Wang also met with former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan. He thanked the South Korean government and people for extending a helping hand when China was at the critical stage of combating COVID-19. 

Both countries fought hand in hand against the epidemic and took the lead in establishing the "fast-track" entry for necessary personnel exchanges and in carrying out cooperation in the resumption of work and production, becoming a role model of international anti-epidemic cooperation, said the Chinese diplomat.

During the meeting with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha on the same day, Wang said that China and South Korea have agreed to further ease pandemic-related travel restrictions.

Wang praised the "robustness" and "vitality" of China's relations with South Korea, saying his trip to the country, despite COVID-19, shows how much Beijing values the bilateral partnership.

Kang Kyung-wha said Wang's visit shows close cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries.