34th Anniversary of Korea-China Diplomatic Relations: Five Northeast Asian Nations Seek Peace Solutions in Beijing

Gwangju Peaceful Unification Policy Forum Hosts International Conference

Discussion on Easing Tensions on the Korean Peninsula Amid Closer Russia-North Korea Relations and US-China Rivalry

To mark the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China, experts from five Northeast Asian countries—South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and Mongolia—gathered in Beijing to explore new avenues of cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia amid rapidly changing international dynamics.

The Gwangju Peaceful Unification Policy Forum (Chairman: Professor Ji Byoung-Geun of Chosun University) announced on August 24 that it had wrapped up the "34th Anniversary of Korea-China Diplomatic Relations Commemorative 2026 Peace Solidarity Northeast Asia International Academic Conference," held in Beijing on August 20 under the theme of "Restructuring Global Order, Northeast Asian Peace, and the Korean Peninsula."

This academic conference was co-hosted by the Gwangju City South-North Exchange Council, the Institute for Northeast Asian Studies at Chosun University, the GIST Convergence Education and Research Center, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in China, and the Center for Korean Peninsula Studies at Peking University.

'34th Anniversary of Korea-China Diplomatic Relations 2026 Peace Alliance Northeast Asia International Academic Conference' Scene. Provided by Gwangju Peaceful Unification Policy Forum

Experts from five countries—South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and Mongolia—assessed the rapidly evolving geopolitical situation, including closer ties between Russia and North Korea and strategic competition between the United States and China, and discussed practical avenues for cooperation to ease military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and establish a peace regime in Northeast Asia.

In a joint keynote session moderated by Professor Jin Hee-Kwan of Inje University, Professor Kim Dong-Gil of Peking University analyzed the recent deepening of the Russia-North Korea relationship as a "dilemma structure" that brings both strategic benefits and burdens to China.

Professor Kim projected that China may maintain strategic ambiguity for the time being and proposed that South Korea, while strengthening cooperation with the United States and Japan, should actively draw China in as an indirect cooperation channel.

Professor Yang Moon-Soo of the University of North Korean Studies described the current international context as an "era of vacancy" lacking an absolute hegemonic state. Warning that the existing structure underpinning peace in Northeast Asia is disintegrating, he stressed the urgent need to restore safety mechanisms to prevent accidental military clashes between North and South Korea.

Session 1 continued under the theme, "Redesigning Northeast Asia’s Peace Amidst a Power Vacuum."

Professor Han Xiandong of China University of Political Science and Law identified policy fluctuations tied to the US presidential election cycle and protectionist pressures as factors destabilizing the regional order in Northeast Asia. He argued that economic cooperation and institutional safety nets must be reinforced—particularly through the Korea-China-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Ruben Kazaryan, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, assessed the rise of the "Global South" as an alternative current to the Western-centric international order. He proposed the "multiple alignment" strategy—where middle-power countries diversify their cooperation partners on a case-by-case basis instead of unilaterally aligning with a particular bloc—as a new diplomatic survival strategy.

Professor Park Jongcheol of Gyeongsang National University identified policy of peaceful coexistence and pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interest as key challenges for South Korea. In particular, he recommended the functional restoration of the September 19 military agreement and related measures to prevent accidental clashes and secure South Korea’s strategic autonomy as military tensions with North Korea rise.

Session 2 addressed the theme, "A Normative Approach to New Discussions on Northeast Asian Peace."

Professor Kang Soo-Jeong of Chosun University analyzed China’s global security initiative as a "normative balancing" strategy and explained that China, through its diplomatic narrative of defining itself as a promoter of peace, is responding to the US-centric security order.

Professor Lee Dongjun of the University of Kitakyushu examined Japan’s trend toward "administrative securitization," pointing out that policies and public debate linking issues such as land acquisition or expanded rights for foreigners to security matters may intensify exclusion and discrimination against certain nationalities. He cautioned that the political exploitation of xenophobia could hinder trust-building between Northeast Asian nations and civil societies.

Participants concurred on the necessity of both enhancing South Korea’s strategic autonomy and transforming the military tensions and interstate competition on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia into a framework of cooperation and coexistence.

They emphasized the importance of moving beyond the logic of survival of the fittest in favor of building a multilateral solidarity and cooperative system at the Northeast Asian level for shared survival and peace.

In an opening address, Noh Jaeheon, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to China, stated, "This year marks the 34th anniversary of Korea-China diplomatic relations. The Korea-China strategic partnership has expanded the common interests of both nations through mutually beneficial cooperation, contributing to the peace and development of the Korean Peninsula and the Northeast Asian region." He added, "I hope this conference will offer new directions for cooperation and effective solutions for Northeast Asian peace."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.