By Lee Jon-Young | The Embassy of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Seoul hosted a reception to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Sept. 26. The event commemorated the deep friendship and cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea, and was attended by more than 700 guests from all walks of life.

“On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China was established, marking a new beginning for the Chinese people, ushering in a new era of independence, sovereignty, and progress, and following a path of development in line with China's national policy, the Chinese people have made a great leap forward, rising up, becoming richer and stronger,” said Charge d'Affaires a. i. Pang Kun of the People's Republic of China in Korea in his congratulatory remarks. 

“Today, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, and more than 1.4 billion Chinese people are powering forward along a solid road of Chinese-style modernization, propelling the feat of great power building and national revival. Today, China's total economy is the second largest in the world. In 2023, its per capita GDP exceeded $12,000, a 750-fold increase from 1952. China is the world's largest manufacturing country, the largest merchandise trading country, the world's largest foreign exchange reserve holder, and the world's second largest consumer of goods.”

Charge d'Affaires a. i. Fang Kun also said, “Looking back on the past 75 years, we take great pride in China's contributions to world peace and development. China has always held firmly to its independent and sovereign peaceful foreign policy and has played the role of a builder of world peace, a contributor to world development, and a guardian of international order, holding high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win.” 

Noting that China and South Korea are inseparable neighbors and inseparable partners in cooperation, Fang Kun said, “Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, Sino-South Korean relations have developed by leaps and bounds and achieved rich results in exchanges and cooperation in all fields, which have not only brought great benefits to the two peoples, but also made important contributions to regional and global peace and prosperity. A series of facts show that no matter how the international and regional situation changes, strengthening friendly cooperation between the two countries is always the only right choice for China and South Korea.” 

He said, “At present, the two countries and the development of bilateral relations are facing a critical stage where opportunities and challenges coexist. At this time, we must communicate with each other from the heart to make the relationship last. China maintains the continuity and stability of its policy toward South Korea, and has always attached great importance to the Sino-ROK relationship.”

Fang Kun added: “We hope that the two countries will firmly uphold the foundations of diplomatic relations, adapt to the prevailing trends of the times, and maintain a stable strategic direction. I also hope that we will continue to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen friendship and expand cooperation. Through this, we hope to stably and continuously develop the Sino-Korean strategic cooperative partnership, create a better and more prosperous future for our two countries together, and make greater contributions to regional peace and stability and the development and progress of mankind.” 

In his congratulatory remarks, First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun said, “Economic cooperation is an important basis for contributing to each other's economies and people's livelihoods, and will continue to strengthen the momentum of practical cooperation between the two countries.”

He also emphasized the significance of the two countries' high-level strategic communication in the context of North Korea's escalating threats ahead of the U.S. Presidential election, including North Korea's successive ballistic missile launches, unveiling of its uranium enrichment facility, and various provocations by the Supreme People's Congress in early October, and called for China's constructive role in the Korean Peninsula.”

Meanwhile, former National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo proposed a toast to greater future development between South Korea and the People's Republic of China through mutual cooperation.