In 1980s, diplomats in Beijing and Seoul were cautiously searching for a way to improve relations. They turned, as China had in the 1970s with the US, to sports: three international games in which they were either hosts or guests.

"Because of political situations, we just began our communication and cooperation in the area of sports." Shin Jung-seung, the Republic of Korea (ROK)'s Ambassador to China said Thursday in an exclusive interview with China Daily website.

At 1986 Asian Games and 1988 Olympic Games, both in Seoul, as well as 1990 Beijing Asian Games, as the Cold War drew to a close, the two countries were able to use sports to "build our mutual trust," Ambassador Shin said.

During the 1990 Asian Games, Mr Shin, then a 15-year veteran Seoul diplomat in northeast Asia division, helped manage communications between China and the ROK, even though the two countries did not have official relations with each other.

But officials from both nations took advantage of those sports events to quietly and unofficially discuss ways to improve relations.

For Seoul, the issue was how to switch its official embassy from Taipei to Beijing. For China, the challenge was to reach out to Seoul without upsetting long-time friend the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Soon after the Games, in 1991, Mr. Shin said he led a secret delegation to Beijing to discuss the establishment of a trade office in both countries.

"That was before the normalization of relations between (the Republic of) Korea and China, so we have to make ourselves like civilians, not the government officials," the diplomat recalled.

After trade offices were established early in 1991, civil trade between ROK and China grew dramatically.

Then on August 24, 1992, China and the ROK signed a joint communiqué in Beijing, announcing the establishment of official relations between the two countries, following nearly a decade of delicate diplomatic negotiations.

"I think during that time, both (the Republic of)Korea and China needed each other, to maintain the stability of the Korean Peninsula, also to further facilitate economic development," the ambassador said, "We need each other."

Video: Lou Yi

Story: Patrick Zuo