Chronologies

China - Korea

Chronology from Jan 2021 to May 2021


: North Korea announces plans to build an “export processing zone” near its border with China.

: South Korea hosts 10th annual China-Japan-South Korea International Forum for Trilateral Cooperation.

: China and South Korea participate in the 77th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

: Xi and Moon take part in a virtual Leaders Summit on Climate at the invitation of US President Joe Biden.

: Moon takes part in 2021 Boao Forum for Asia held in the Chinese province of Hainan, along with Xi and leaders of several other Asian nations.

: South Korea’s Oceans Ministry announces plans to conduct a joint operation with its Chinese counterpart to curb illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea.

: South Korean Director of National Security Suh Hoon reportedly tells US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Seoul that China and North Korea are preparing to hold a summit.

: North Korea’s Ambassador to China Ri Ryong Nam presents credentials to Xi.

: China opens the 129th Canton Fair online, with companies from South Korea and other countries in attendance at the virtual trade exhibition.

: Hyundai Motor Group announces plans to launch electric vehicles in China every year starting in 2022.

: Radio Free Asia announces that North Korea has completed construction of a new rail route to its border with China designed to isolate freight to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

: China and South Korea hold first meeting on exchanges and cooperation on maritime affairs.

: North Korea joins China and South Korea in condemning Japan’s decision to release contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean.

: Liu Xiaoming is appointed Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korea Peninsula Affairs.

: Representatives from China and South Korea participate in ASEAN Defense Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM-Plus) conference.

: China and South Korea announce that they will coordinate and establish a mechanism for mutual recognition of their health codes and that they will support the inclusion of each other’s citizens in their COVID-19 vaccination programs.

: Foreign ministers Wang and Chung hold talks in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen.

: South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts the second virtual meeting on “Northeast Asia Cooperation for Health Security,” which brings together director-level officials and ambassadors from South Korea, the United States, China, Japan, Russia, and Mongolia.

: Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao meets North Korean Ambassador to China Ri Ryong Nam.

: In response to reports about North Korea firing two unidentified projectiles, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua asserts that China seeks a political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.

: China’s Tencent Music Entertainment enters a partnership with South Korea’s JYP Entertainment.

: Kim sends a verbal message to Xi to notify him of the events of the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Xi responds with gratitude and stresses the importance of the China-North Korea relationship.

: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying asserts that it is China’s policy to maintain, consolidate, and develop China-North Korea relations and that China has repeatedly called on the UN Security Council to modify sanctions on North Korea to improve the humanitarian situation.

: North Korean leader Kim and President Xi pledge to develop bilateral ties.

: Chinese Foreign Ministry denies South Korean media reports blaming China for “yellow dust” sandstorm.

: Chinese government officially ratifies RCEP.

: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers government work report that calls for acceleration of free trade negotiations with South Korea to China’s top legislature.

: Eighth director-general-level meeting on the delimitation of maritime boundaries between China and South Korea takes place in video format.

: South Korea and China sign a revised memorandum of understanding on the establishment of direct communication lines between their air forces and navies.

: Chinese Ministry of Commerce and South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy hold meeting of chief negotiators for the second phase of free trade agreement negotiations.

: China’s CCTV and South Korea’s KBS sign an agreement to cooperate in various aspects of the cultural industry.

: North Korea appoints its former trade minister, Ri Ryong Nam, as ambassador to China.

: South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Wang agree to push for high-level exchanges to further deepen bilateral relations.

: Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming calls on South Korea to support China’s position on Taiwan and Hong Kong in a meeting with Kwon Ki-sik, head of the Korea-China City Friendship Association.

: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon exchange New Year’s congratulatory messages.

: Xi expresses support for Korean denuclearization in a call with Moon and both agree to jointly develop China-South Korea relations.

: Independence Hall of Korea, a history museum in Cheonan, South Korea, announces plans to set up a memorial hall dedicated to China and South Korea’s joint fight against Japanese aggression prior to and during World War II.

: ROK President Moon Jae-in asserts the need to establish a foundation upon which bilateral China-South Korea relations will be elevated to a new height in opening remarks at a Plenary Meeting of the South Korean National Security Council.

: South Korea’s trade commission decides to uphold anti-dumping tariffs on imported Chinese H-shaped beams.

: Hyundai Motor Group announces that it has signed an investment contract with the government of Guangdong Province to establish an offshore fuel cell system production factory in Guangzhou, China.

: Kim Jong Un expresses gratitude to Xi and his intention to consolidate the China-North Korea friendship.

: Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea expresses gratitude to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for its congratulatory message.

: Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulates North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on his election as general secretary of the ruling party and calls for strong relations between the two countries.

: In his New Year’s Address South Korean President Moon Jae-in expresses his intent to expedite free trade agreement negotiations with China.

: In remarks at the Eighth Party Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un asserts importance of prioritizing special China-North Korea relations.

: China’s Commerce Ministry introduces its 2021 work focus, which includes promotion of early implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), acceleration of talks for a China-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Agreement, and active consideration of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2021.

: Central Committee of the Communist Party of China sends a congratulatory message to the Workers’ Party of Korea on its Eighth Party Congress.

Date Range