Korean and Chinese lawmakers launched a legislators’ association for foreign affairs issues on Tuesday, with Rep. Chung Mong-joon of the ruling Saenuri Party being selected as its first chairman.

“(The association) will actively work to take Korea-China relations beyond that of an economic alliance to an alliance that shares values common to mankind such as peace, human rights and upholding international laws,” Chung said at the launch ceremony. He went on to say that measures that will enable the association to “achieve effective and real results” will be introduced.

The former leader of the ruling Saenuri Party also said that the newly launched association should be bolstered to a scope similar to that of the Japan-South Korea Parliamentarians’ Union.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)