Beijing, May 23 (IANS): Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Seoul to take concrete measures to "pull out the thorn" in its relationship with Beijing.

Wang said South Korean President Moon Jae-in has underlined the importance of his country's relations with China, Xinhua news agency reported.

Soon after being elected as President, Moon sent Lee Hae-chan, a member of National Assembly and former Prime Minister, to visit China as his special envoy earlier this month.

Wang said the official's tour reflected Moon's emphasis on China and his willingness to improve bilateral relations.

"We noticed that the new South Korean administration has brought new changes to the country's China policy, and its attitude towards China is also different from its predecessor," Wang said.

He explained that Moon's government showed readiness to squarely face problems that hinder China-South Korea relations, rather than keeping away from them.

South Korean administration was ready to understand China's concerns in protecting its legitimate interests; and to make active efforts to solve the issue concerning the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) missile system.