Cho met Chinese foreign minister Wang in Tokyo ahead of their three-way meeting with the Japanese foreign minister.

South Korea and China, Seoul’s largest trading partner, also agreed to speed up free trade negotiations on services and investments, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry.

South Korea is offering a visa exemption to Chinese visitors in the third quarter to boost tourism, and China has extended visa-free entry to South Korean nationals among others.

Both countries will try to create a “new turning point” in bilateral ties via Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November, the ministry said in a statement.

Amid rising geopolitical uncertainty, Cho also asked Wang to play a “constructive role” in reining in North Korea, and Wang said Beijing’s position on the Korean peninsula issue has not changed, South Korea’s foreign ministry added.

China is the chief ally and economic lifeline for North Korea, despite Pyongyang’s growing ties with Moscow.

Cho affirmed that South Korea’s maritime interests shouldn’t be impacted by China’s activities on the west coast off South Korea, and Wang suggested continued discussions on maritime issues, the ministry added.