North Korean denuclearization could be an opportunity for U.S.-China cooperation rather than competition, South Korea’s unification minister said on Wednesday.

At his first press conference with foreign correspondents this year, Lee In-young acknowledged concerns that the fallout between the U.S. and China will have a “significant impact” on the North Korea issue.

“However, as President Xi expressed his support for inter-Korean and U.S.-DPRK talks during his phone call with President Moon, I believe the peace process on the Korean Peninsula can be an opportunity for cooperation where the U.S. and China can share the idea of peaceful coexistence,” Lee said.