Warming China-South Korean Relations: Lee Jae-myung's visit to China opens a fresh chapter in pragmatic cooperation

chiny24.com 1 month ago

On 4–7 January 2026, South Korean president Lee Jae-myung made a four-day state visit to China. It was not only the president of South Korea's first visit to China since 2019, but besides president Lee's first abroad journey since taking office.

Lee Jae-myung's visit to China is simply a clear signal both in terms of time and the order of diplomatic visits.

According to South Korea's diplomatic tradition, recently elected leaders usually treat the United States as a precedence destination for the first abroad visit, followed by Japan, and then China. However, Lee's decision to elect Beijing as the first intent of a abroad visit reflects a crucial change in South Korea's policy towards China.

The president of South Korea was accompanied by a large economical delegation that included more than 200 business leaders, including the heads of the largest corporations specified as Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, LG Group and many others.

First, on Monday 5.01, president Lee met with president Xi Jin Ping. Xi stressed that both countries are "prioritising common relations". "Friends get closer to each meeting, and neighbors with each visit," said Xi, whose visit to South Korea at the APEC summit in November 2025 was the first visit of the Chinese president since 2014. "As friends and neighbors, South Korea and China request to work together more and communicate more often," Xi noted. He besides said that "both countries, with broad common interests, should firmly stand on the right side of past and make the right strategical choices".

Lee noted that the 2 neighbouring countries have maintained friendly relations for thousands of years and share a past of opposition against the failure of sovereignty and the conflict for independence, which clearly refers to the nipponese colonial expansion in the early 20th century. He stressed that the South Korean side respects the basic interests and main concerns of China and advocates the rule of 1 China.

During a 90-minute gathering of the presidents, both leaders stressed the importance of resuming dialog with North Korea, although the parties disagree in the circumstantial approach to North Korea's atomic issue.

Both parties agreed that differences should be addressed through dialog and consultation and agreed to establish a high-level consultation mechanics on matters concerning the Korean Peninsula. Lee and Xi agreed to yearly meetings and to extend communication between defence authorities to "build common trust and contribute to peace and stableness in the region".

During his time in Beijing, president Lee besides met with China's Prime Minister Li Qiang and He Li Feng's Vice Prime Minister for economical Affairs, with whom they attended a Korean and Chinese business seminar with more than 500 companies.

President Lee besides visited Shanghai.

During president Lee Jae-myung's visit to China, which was a formal reopening of economical cooperation after years of comparatively weak relations, fresh US$44 million export agreements and dozens of Memorandum of knowing (MOUs), commercial, political, cultural and defence-related areas were signed.

It is likely that the different situation that took place in Beijing will be history: president Xi gave president Lee, among another things, the latest model of Xiaomi's phone. The president of South Korea utilized this to make a selfie with the leader of China. The first ladies joined them immediately. This is another sign of a change in the attitude of the highest representatives of the Beijing authorities, who successively change their usual catural image. And what is interesting is that they come out highly naturally.