More than 3 decades on, a witness to China-S. Korea ties sees shared future

For Shin Jung-seung, former South Korean ambassador to China, the 1992 signing of the joint communique establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries remains a vivid memory.

"Witnessing the normalization of bilateral ties with my own eyes was deeply moving," Shin said, recalling the signing ceremony at Fangfeiyuan Hall in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Aug 24, 1992.

At the time, Shin was director of the Northeast Asia Division II in the South Korean Foreign Ministry's Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau. In charge of China affairs, he played an active role in the negotiations that led to the establishment of diplomatic relations, often seen as a milestone that reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Northeast Asia.

Beyond the official exchanges, Shin recalled another touching moment that night at a restaurant near the state guesthouse. The owner, a member of China's Korean ethnic group, was overjoyed by the news and presented the delegation with a bottle of liquor as a gift.

"That gave me a tangible sense that the normalization of relations would greatly benefit the peoples of both nations," Shin said.

With his experience, Shin later served as a minister at South Korea's embassy in Beijing, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau, and ambassador to China from 2008 to 2009.

While many countries doubted in the early 1990s that China could achieve rapid economic growth, Shin said he was confident of its economic prospects when he became ambassador.

He said China's rapid development and the achievements it showcased at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo reinforced his confidence.

"What was unexpected was the dazzling advancement of China's high-tech technology today," he added.

Shin said he was impressed by the results of active government support, companies' creativity and bold investment, and academic institutions' efforts to cultivate talent.

"This is something I believe South Korea has much to learn from," he said.

After retiring from the foreign service, Shin continued to devote himself to China studies and promoting bilateral friendship.

He was the inaugural director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul and now heads the Center for Chinese Studies at Dongseo University in Busan.

Shin has also served as president of the Korea-China Friendship Association since 2021.

"I've always believed in the importance of viewing things objectively," he said.

Promoting exchanges

To achieve this, Shin said he has striven to promote academic exchanges with China and engage with Chinese experts, while frequently organizing discussions with experts in South Korea.

"In exchange with China, it is important to build trust by respecting each other and engaging with goodwill," he said, adding that he still constantly ponders how to effectively convey South Korea's position to his Chinese friends whenever opportunities arise.

He said active public engagement is needed to enhance mutual understanding in the spirit of "harmony without uniformity", while upholding the principles of mutual respect, reciprocity and equality enshrined in the 1992 Joint Communique.

Vast opportunities will emerge if the two countries continue to deepen cooperation based on mutual respect and identify complementary areas for win-win outcomes, he said.

For his part, Shin said he is committed to supporting bilateral relations through academic work and friendship activities.

He highlighted mutual visa exemption and the Collective Action for Mobility Program of University Students in Asia, a student exchange and academic cooperation program jointly launched by China, South Korea and Japan in 2012, as encouraging ways to deepen youth friendship.

At Dongseo University, Shin said he has seen students from the three countries build friendships under the program while learning one another's languages and cultures.

"Facilitating as much exchange as possible among the younger generations of South Korea and China will allow them to understand each other and deepen friendship, which will bring bright prospects to the future of bilateral relations," Shin said, adding that governments should fully support such efforts.

Looking ahead to the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in November, Shin said he expects further momentum in South Korea-China relations following last year's meeting in South Korea and state visits, even though challenges remain.

Noting that China emphasized the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a 2025 national security white paper, Shin said this is a shared goal for South Korea.

He expressed hope that closer cooperation between the two countries can contribute to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

kelly@chinadailyapac.com