China Hopes South Korean Election Results Keep Relations Between The Two Countries

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mao Ning (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - The Chinese government hopes that whoever wins the legislative elections in South Korea will maintain the stability of relations between the two countries.

"The parliamentary election is a domestic South Korean matter. We have no comment on this," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning when delivering a statement to the media in Beijing as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, April 12.

The preliminary results of the South Korean elections on Wednesday (10/4) show victory is in the hands of opposition parties.

"China and South Korea are neighbors and partners who are important to each other. Healthy and stable bilateral relations will benefit the interests of China and South Korea," added Mao Ning.

China, said Mao Ning, hopes that South Korea will actively cooperate to achieve this goal.

A total of 300 parliamentary seats are waiting to be filled. A total of 254 seats were elected by direct elections and 46 seats were chosen by the party in accordance with the proportion of their votes.

According to the results of the recapitulation of the general election commission, the Democratic Party secured 175 of the 300 seats or absolute majority in parliament while the People's Power Party (PPP) which currently holds the government and its coalition parties only controls 108 seats.

The participation rate was reported at 67 percent or the highest in the history of 32 years of general elections in South Korea.

This election is seen by several analysts as a public stance towards President Yoon Suk-yeol's government whose popularity has slumped amid the cost of living crisis and the rise of political scandals.