Seoul's quick approval on Chinese envoy tightens diplomatic knot

Seoul - The South Korean government on Wednesday speedily approved Zhang Xinsen as China's new ambassador to Seoul amid signs of improving relations between the two countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's announcement of its endorsement of Zhang coincided with a three-day trip to China by South Korea's top diplomat.

Seoul's approval of the new Chinese envoy, a process that usually takes about a month, came 11 days after local media reported that Beijing had nominated Zhang for the post.

In addition, Zhang, a top diplomat at China's Foreign Ministry, has a higher rank than ambassadors China has previously sent to South Korea. Beijing had earlier been dispatching higher-level diplomats to its ally and fellow communist country North Korea while sending lower-ranking envoys to Seoul.

"I will work to further improve Seoul-Beijing relations during my tenure," Zhang, a director in the general office at China's Foreign Ministry, told South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung Hwan, according to local media in Shanghai.

Yu was visiting the city to tour the World Expo 2010 site and gauge the possibility of a trip by President Lee Myung Bak when the expo opens in May. Yu stopped in Shanghai en route to Beijing, where he was expected to discuss resumption of the six-nation talks on denuclearizing North Korea, in which China and South Korea are involved.

Zhang's appointment and approval came after Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited South Korea in December when he was hosted by Yu Woo Ik, who was the South Korean ambassador-designate to China at the time.

China's government was also quick to confirm Yu Woo Ik's appointment, in 17 days, in November.

The highest post at the Chinese embassy in Seoul has been empty since ambassador Cheng Yonghua's departure in February.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/314538,seouls-quick-approval-on-chinese-envoy-tightens-diplomatic-knot.html.