On April 18th, Hwang JaiYu, Dean of International Relations Department, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Director of Global Safety Cooperation Center visited the Wuhan University China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies (CIBOS). Prof. Hwang delivered a talk on continuous changes of Northeast Asia and Sino-ROK cooperation, and had an in-depth exchange of views in fluent Chinese on many questions relating to Sino-R.O.K. relations with teachers and students at present. Associate Professor of CIBOS, Huang Wei, hosted the seminar. Teachers and students from CIBOS, Institutes for International Studies (IIS) and Law school participated in this academic seminar.

In his speech, Prof. Hwang discussed about Sino-Republic of Korea (ROK) relations, North Korea issues, Sino-U.S. relations and foreign policy of ROK. He analyzed historical and political motives of Park Geun-hye’s scandal, and combed through the process and aftermath of Moon Jae-in’s presidential selection. Prof. Hwang pointed out that President Moon took office with tense diplomatic relations with U.S., Japan, China, and Russia, which is different from previous presidents. Facing current domestic and foreign situation, President Moon is willingly to implement “North-South Relation Improvement” plan, put aside the THAAD plan, and expect to advance China-ROK relations. Prof. Hwang believes that it is more appropriate to interpret Sino-ROK relations as economic partnership rather than strategic cooperative partnership and whether economic interdependency can lead to security interdependency is a question that both countries should ponder over.

(Hwang JaiYu)

Meanwhile, Prof. Hwang emphasized the essential role of ‘the U.S. factor’ and argued that U.S. has greater impact on sustaining Korean Peninsula’s peace and stability than that of China and two Koreas, as more than 50% of the influencing factors are determined by U.S.. It is necessary to promote the development of new Sino-ROK relations. ROK proposed a constructive idea of ‘Northeast Asia Share Responsibility Community’ and can strengthen communication, mutual trust and cooperation mechanism with China in the aspects of ‘Community of Common Destiny and Northeast Asia cooperation community’, ‘The Belt and Road Initiative and the new neo-Peninsula economy’, etc.

(Rewritten by Yu Minna )

(Edited by Fu Shanshan)