Economic Cooperation
First Pyongyang-Beijing passenger train arrives, resuming service after six years
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The first passenger train from Pyongyang arrived in Beijing on March 13, 2026, confirming the resumption of direct rail service between the North Korean and Chinese capitals after a six-year suspension due to COVID-19. Departing Pyongyang the previous day, the 22-hour journey signals improving bilateral ties amid recent diplomatic efforts.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to visit South Korea next week for talks with senior officials in Seoul. He will then head to China to prepare for a summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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Korea and Pakistan will begin the first round of negotiations on a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on Monday. Seoul's trade ministry said the virtual talks aim to boost trade and investment. Kim Jang-hee, director general for Trade Agreement Negotiations, and his Pakistani counterpart Nasir Hamid will hold four days of discussions.
President Lee Jae Myung unveiled the SHINE initiative for Middle East cooperation at Cairo University. The initiative emphasizes stability, harmony, innovation, network, and education to promote peace, deepen economic partnerships, and expand cultural exchanges. In a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the two nations agreed to enhance cooperation on peace and defense.
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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first summit in Gyeongju during Xi's visit to South Korea after 11 years. The two sides emphasized cooperation for denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula, signing seven memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to expand practical ties. After the talks, they exchanged gifts with lighthearted banter.