South Korea should not fear China's rise, foreign minister says

"We should neither have an unfounded fear of China's rise nor underestimate its capabilities and potential," South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said, a day after meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.

South Korea Foreign Minister Cho Hyun attends the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting Welcome Reception at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, US, Oct 30, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Megan Varner)

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SEOUL: South Korea should neither fear China's rise nor underestimate its capabilities, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Saturday (Nov 14), urging deeper cooperation ahead of a regional summit in China next week.

"During this visit to China, I was reminded that we should neither have an unfounded fear of China's rise nor underestimate its capabilities and potential," Cho wrote on X, saying Seoul should build cooperation benefiting both countries by drawing on the autonomy and creativity of its people and companies.

Cho's remarks came after talks and dinner with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Friday, their first meeting in about three months.

The ministers discussed bilateral ties, issues on the Korean Peninsula and ways to deliver tangible benefits to people in both countries.

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