ABIDJAN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Monday that South Korean President Moon Jae-in has underlined the importance of his country's relations with China, urging Seoul to take concrete measures to "pull out the thorn" in its relationship with Beijing.
Wang made the remarks in a press release during his ongoing visit to the West African country of Cote d'Ivoire.
Soon after being elected as president, Moon Jae-in sent Lee Hae-chan, a member of National Assembly and former prime minister, to visit China as his special envoy earlier this month.
Wang said the senior official's tour reflects his president's emphasis on China and his willingness to improve bilateral relations.
"We noticed that the new South Korean administration has brought new changes to the country's China policy, and its attitude towards China is also different from its predecessor," Wang said.
He further explained that Moon Jae-in's government shows readiness to squarely face problems that hinder China-South Korea relations, rather than keep away from them; to understand China's concerns in protecting its legitimate interests; and to make active efforts to solve the issue concerning the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system.
"Whoever tied the bell onto the tiger shall take it off," Wang noted, saying China wishes South Korea to take concrete measures to remove the obstacles in their bilateral relations.
