The number of sideline meetings at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen, China, on Nov. 18-19, is growing.
When receiving Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Seoul this week, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Seoul hopes to “further strengthen high-level exchanges by taking President Lee Jae-myung’s attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen this November… as opportunities.” The Korean side reported that Wang Yi said China is actively considering a Xi-Lee meeting there. Asked to confirm this at the Aug. 20 Foreign Ministry press conference, spokesman Lin Jian did not deny it: China “stands ready to take this opportunity to work with all sides, including the ROK,” he said, adding “we will release information in due course.”
At the same briefing, AFP asked about a Wall Street Journal report that President Trump is weighing a meeting with Kim Jong-un at the Shenzhen summit. Lin Jian: “I don’t have any specific information. I will not comment on this.”