China’s Xi seriously considering South Korea visit - Yonhap agency

BEIJING/SEOUL, Sept 23 (Yonhap) - China's President Xi Jinping on Saturday said he will seriously consider visiting South Korea, Yonhap news agency reported, as part of efforts to support peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.

China Central Television (CCTV) reported that Xi had told South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Saturday that China is willing to work to promote a strategic partnership between the two countries.

Xi, who has not visited South Korea since 2014, held talks with Han in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou before the opening ceremony of the Asian game on Saturday.

The commitment to cooperation came ahead of scheduled trilateral talks in Seoul on Sept.

26 involving senior officials from China, Japan and South Korea, intended to pave the way for the first summit between the three countries in four years.

Xi told Han he would welcome such a summit at an opportune time and would seriously consider visiting South Korea, Yonhap reported.

A Chinese statement did not mention Xi's comment on the summit or a visit to Seoul.