Beijing: President Lee Jae Myung's special envoys to China have expressed South Korea's intention to enhance its "strategic cooperative partnership" with China, while simultaneously reinforcing its alliance with the United States, the foreign ministry announced on Monday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the delegation, headed by former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, conveyed this message during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. The envoys emphasized the importance of developing Seoul-Beijing relations in a "mature" manner, guided by national interest and pragmatism, alongside strengthening ties with the U.S.

The envoys handed over a personal letter from President Lee to Chinese President Xi Jinping, urging Xi to attend the forthcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea. Both sides agreed to collaborate closely to ensure the summit's success and discussed Beijing's role as the host for the following year.

Furthermore, they committed to enhancing cooperation in areas such as the economy, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, aiming for tangible improvements in the lives of citizens from both nations. The delegation also underscored the importance of mutual respect on issues of shared interest, including those concerning the Yellow Sea.

South Korea and China have been at odds following China's construction of steel towers in the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ), an overlapping sea area between the two countries. The envoys also urged China to take a "constructive" part in addressing North Korea's nuclear issues and fostering peace on the Korean Peninsula. Wang reiterated China's unchanged stance on the peninsula's issues, expressing hope for collaboration with the Lee administration to ensure peace and stability.

The delegation, composed of ruling Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Tae-nyeon, Park Jeung, and Roh Jae-hun, son of former President Roh Tae-woo, is on a four-day visit that concludes on Wednesday. They are slated to meet with key Chinese officials, including Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress.