BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping told South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Tuesday that the two countries should respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, and ensure ties move forward “on the right track”, Chinese state media reported.

In their first phone call since Lee took office last week, Xi said healthy, stable and continuously deepening China-South Korea relations were conducive to regional and world peace and stability, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

China is South Korea’s biggest trading partner and diplomatic relations between the two have improved since a 2017 spat over South Korea’s installation of a U.S. missile defence system that Beijing opposed.

Xi urged the two countries to strengthen exchanges, adhere to the direction of “friendly

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