South Korea calls for greater Chinese efforts to bring North Korea back to talks

GYEONGJU, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to make greater efforts to persuade North Korea to return to talks, as the two leaders on Saturday agreed on a set of steps to expand their economic and other ties.

Their one-on-one meeting came hours after they and other Asia-Pacific leaders wrapped up an annual summit in South Korea with a joint statement pledging stronger economic cooperation. The two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in the city of Gyeongju took place a day after Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to dial back earlier steps and de-escalate their trade war.

During his meeting with Lee, Xi called for Seoul to work with Beijing to “practice genuine multilateralism,” according to Chinese state media, as he continued to position Beijing as the defender of the global trade order upended by Trump's sweeping tariffs.

Chinese state media reports on the Xi-Lee meeting didn’t immediately carry any North Korea-related comments by Xi.

However, Wi Sung-lac, Lee’s national security director, said Lee during the meeting outlined his strategy for achieving denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and “requested a constructive Chinese role to help realize the resumption of talks with North Korea.”

“Xi replied that he would continue his efforts to help resolve issues involving the Korean Peninsula and promote peace and stability here,” Wi said.

China is North Korea’s traditional ally and economic pipeline, but there are still questions about how much leverage it has on its impoverished neighbor. China has been long suspected of avoiding fully implementing U.N. sanctions on North Korea and sending clandestine aid shipments to help the North stay afloat and continue to serve as a bulwark against U.S. influence on the Korean Peninsula.

The North Korea item in the Lee-Xi meeting drew an irritated response from Pyongyang. North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Ho slammed South Korea for talking about “its daydream” of realizing North Korea’s denuclearization.

Lee, an advocate of reconciliation with North Korea, said earlier Saturday he would take “more active preemptive steps” to lower military tensions with the North, stressing that peace on the Korean Peninsula is essential to prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.

Lee’s office said South Korea and China also signed several agreements on jointly combating online scams, expanding a bilateral free trade deal and renewing a currency swap deal that expired last month.

After two days of talks, APEC leaders vowed greater cooperation to tackle shared challenges in a global economy hit hard by rising protectionism and trade tensions between the United States and China, the world’s two largest economies.

Their joint statement declared that the APEC leaders "acknowledge the global trading system continues to face significant challenge.”

“We reaffirm our shared recognition that robust trade and investment are vital to the growth and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region,” it says.

Jeonghun Min, a professor at South Korea’s National Diplomatic Academy, said the statement avoided direct language supporting “free and open trade,” which would not have received backing from the United States, but still endorsed economic cooperation and multilateralism at the core of APEC’s mission.

"It wasn’t possible to leave that out entirely,” said Min.

The joint declaration said that APEC members remain committed to the Putrajaya Vision 2040, a 20-year growth vision adopted in 2020 that calls for a trade environment that’s “free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent and predictable.”

While the summit's opening session on Friday focused on ways to boost trade and investment, Saturday's meeting had cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, demographic challenges and cultural industries on its agenda.

Xi urged Asia-Pacific countries on Saturday to promote the “sound and orderly development” of AI in a way that is mindful of all of humanity's well-being. He proposed the formation of a new global body called the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization.

Trump, known for his dismissal of multilateralism, had quickly left South Korea after the agreement with Xi, leaving the Chinese president to steal the limelight at the APEC summit. The U.S. under Trump has stepped back from efforts to regulate AI and would be unlikely to join the group that China has proposed.

APEC leaders also issued a statement Saturday calling for a coordinated approach to the changes brought by AI, which they described as a potential economic catalyst that also poses challenges. Another statement urged cooperation to address declining birth rates, aging populations and accelerated urbanization.

On Friday, Xi told the summit that China would support global free trade and supply chain stability — an apparent effort to position his country as an alternative to Trump’s protectionist policies. In written remarks sent to a CEO summit held in conjunction with the APEC summit, Xi said that “investing in China is investing in the future.”

Established in 1989, APEC champions free and open trade and investment to promote regional economic integration. But the region now faces challenges such as the U.S.-China rivalry, supply chain disruptions, aging populations and the impact of AI on jobs.

Protesters against the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and United States President Donald Trump gather in Gyeongju, South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Yonhap via AP)

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a press conference for the South Korea Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center left, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, center right, shake hands after a group photo at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Yonhap via AP)

South Korean police officers patrol near the venue of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, right, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Yonhap via AP)

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, right, speaks next to Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Yonhap via AP)

Banners for APEC 2025 Korea are displayed during the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit at Gyeongju station in Gyeongju, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Barcelona rose again to the peak of European soccer by routing its most storied rival OL Lyonnes 4-0 in an overwhelming second-half display in the Women’s Champions League final on Saturday.

A four-time European champion in just six seasons, Barcelona is a dynasty in women’s soccer replacing Lyon which dominated the previous decade and has a record eight titles.

Barcelona forward Ewa Pajor lost in her first five visits to the European title match but the former Wolfsburg star made her sixth attempt count with two goals.

Pajor struck with an arrowing low shot in the 55th minute and a close-range finish in the 69th when the Barcelona attack was queuing up to score past the stretched Lyon defense.

“This is amazing, the best day of my life,” the 29-year-old Pajor said. “I’ve played in six finals and finally, in Oslo, we did it.”

Salma Paralluelo turned the screw on Lyon by firing in a rising left-foot shot in the 90th and adding another slick finish in stoppage time.

The decisive first goal was created by a surging 40-yard run and assist by Patri Guijarro, often overlooked in a stellar midfield alongside Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas.

Barcelona has swept all four domestic and international trophies this season.

One year ago, Barcelona was denied another trophy sweep by a surprising 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the final.

In the dugout on Saturday it was a victory for a former assistant over his one-time boss.

Barcelona coach Pere Romeu was an assistant to Jonatan Giráldez, now with Lyon, when the Catalan giant won back-to-back Champions Leagues in 2023 and ’24.

It was a cruel end for Lyon which also was seeking a quadruple of trophies this season and impressed early. Lyon stifled Barcelona’s intent to control play with neat passing, and was typically strong with set-pieces.

Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll saved well in the first half from Wendie Renard’s header and a free kick by left back Selma Bacha that curled toward the top corner.

"It was a team win, Cata saved us early on, and then the whole team pitched in," Barcelona coach Romeu said.

Almost inevitably in modern soccer, a VAR intervention changed the flow of the game — though it was needed by Barcelona to spot an offside missed by the match officials.

When Renard’s header in the 14th was pushed out by Coll, Lyon midfielder Lindsey Heaps poked the loose ball into the goal from three yards. The United States captain advanced beyond Renard when the header was struck but the offside was only confirmed one minute later as Barcelona waited to kick off.

Heaps was consoled by Barcelona's stars after playing one of her last games for Lyon. She is returning home to join Denver Summit, an expansion team in the NWSL.

The Poland star flipped her own script after enduring a ragged first half. Pajor twice shot wide of goal when in clear space to shoot.

The first time was in the 18th with a 22-yard lob toward an unguarded goal after miscommunication between Renard and the advancing goalkeeper Christiane Endler. The ball bounced into the side netting on the wrong side of the post.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Barcelona's Irene Paredes lifts the trophy after winning the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Barcelona's Salma Paralluelo celebrates after scoring her side's fourth goal during the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Lyonnes' Lindsey Heaps scores a goal afterwards disallowed for offside during the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen vies for the ball with Lyonnes' Lily Yohannes, right, during the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Barcelona's Ewa Pajor, center, scores the opening goal during the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Barcelona's Ewa Pajor, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The tournament trophy is displayed on the pitch ahead of the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Barcelona's Alexia Putellas walks with a ball during a training session on the eve of the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, right, and Sydney Schertenleib play with a ball during a training session on the eve of the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Lyonnes players and staff gather together on the pitch during a training session on the eve of the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Lyonnes' Ada Hegerberg reaches for the ball during a training session on the eve of the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Barcelona's Kika Nazareth plays with a ball during a training session on the eve of the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, in Oslo, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)