China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on South Korea on Thursday to exercise “genuine strategic autonomy”, and urged Seoul to develop ties with Beijing and Washington in parallel, rather than taking sides in major-power rivalries.According to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang told South Korean national security adviser Wi Sung-lac that Beijing hoped Seoul would “achieve strategic autonomy, refrain from bloc confrontation or taking sides, and develop relations with major powers – such as China and the US – simultaneously without mutual exclusion”.In a meeting with Wi in Seoul, Wang also said that lasting peace on the Korean peninsula could only be achieved by addressing the core causes of conflict and ending Washington’s hostile stance towards North Korea.“China hopes all parties will take concrete actions conducive to restarting dialogue and restoring mutual trust, and welcomes the peninsula moving towards peaceful coexistence, ultimately achieving the transition from an armistice mechanism to a lasting peace,” Wang said.01:53Trump orders Pentagon chief to cut number of joint military exercises with South KoreaIn a separate meeting, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told Wang he would use the coming Apec leaders’ meeting in southern China to elevate bilateral ties.