As China and South Korea decided on Tuesday to bring bilateral relations back on the normal track, both countries are faced with a chance to restore their ties strained over the installation of a U.S. missile shield system and work for a better future.
The detente came amid a standoff between China and South Korea that had lasted more than a year since Washington and Seoul announced their decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea in July 2016.
However, China and South Korea, the two key players in Southeast Asia, could have built more synergy in handling thorny issues confronting the region and the world and in building common peace and prosperity.
China attaches importance to its relations with South Korea and their booming ties over the past few years have brought tangible benefits to the two peoples.
Since the establishment of their diplomatic relations 25 years ago, the two neighbors have witnessed rapid advancement in bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of economy and trade.
The number of Chinese tourists visiting South Korea hit a record high in early 2016 and people-to-people exchanges continued to flourish, getting the two peoples to better understand each other.
Although some analysts remain prudent about whether the frosty ties between China and South Korea would thaw straight away, both governments have showed strong political resolve to properly handle the THAAD issue and further develop strategic partnership.
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa told lawmakers on Monday that there has been no change in Seoul's stance that it will not participate in the U.S.-led missile defense system, adding that South Korea is making efforts to build its own system -- the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD).
Kang stressed that Seoul would not seek additional THAAD deployment and that security cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan would not develop into a trilateral military alliance.
Nam Gwan-pyo, a security official from the Blue House, also confirmed Tuesday that South Korean President Moon Jae-in would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the upcoming meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies in Vietnam.
"This summit can be seen as the first step to implement the agreement aimed to swiftly put bilateral ties back on the right track," Nam noted.
Indeed, as long as China and South Korea respect and give full consideration to each other's concerns and interests, the two big economies in Asia would have huge potential to jointly cope with a wider variety of global issues.
What's past is past, but it is where one could learn a lesson. Now it's high time for the two Asian neighbors to honor their agreement, prevent the recurrence of similar scenarios and keep bilateral ties on track.
