In the midst of escalating tensions between Russia, the United States, and North Korea, China's President Xi Jinping has expressed China's willingness to cooperate with South Korea to develop a strategic alliance that can adapt to changing times. President Xi met with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou before the Asian Games opening ceremony.

-The commitment to cooperation between China and South Korea comes ahead of the scheduled trilateral talks between China, Japan, and South Korea in Seoul on September 26, which will be the first summit led by senior officials from the three countries in four years. President Xi welcomed the summit and said he would seriously consider visiting South Korea, although a Chinese statement did not mention this comment or a potential visit to Seoul.

President Xi emphasized that China values South Korea's positive attitude towards cooperation and called on South Korea to meet China halfway to maintain friendly cooperation between the two nations. He suggested that the two countries could deepen their mutually beneficial collaborations. Tensions between China and South Korea have heightened following North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's recent visit to Russia, which has angered the United States, Japan, and South Korea. As a response, South Korea has imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and two entities involved in North Korea's nuclear program and weapons trade with three countries, including Russia. It remains to be seen how China's cooperation with South Korea will impact the ongoing tensions in the region.