President Lee to Make State Visit to China from Jan 4-7... Summit with Xi Jinping Scheduled

100th Anniversary of the Provisional Government of Korea
Shanghai Visit Scheduled for January 6-7
Multiple MOUs to Be Signed... Meeting with Korean Community Also Planned

President Lee Jaemyung will make a state visit to China from January 4 to 7 next year at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Yonhap News

Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the Blue House, announced at a briefing held at the Blue House Chunchugwan on the afternoon of the 30th, "President Lee will carry out official engagements in Beijing from January 4 to 6, including a summit meeting and state banquet with President Xi, and will visit Shanghai from the 6th to the 7th." This will be President Lee's first visit to China since taking office, and his second summit meeting with President Xi following their meeting on November 1 last month during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju.

Regarding this visit to China, Spokesperson Kang explained, "The two leaders will meet again just over two months after the Gyeongju APEC summit to solidify the comprehensive restoration of the Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership. They will also discuss measures to achieve tangible outcomes that will substantively benefit the peoples of both countries, including supply chains, investment, the digital economy, responses to transnational crime, and the environment."

Regarding the Shanghai schedule, she stated, "As 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of Kim Koo's birth and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, there will be a program to reflect on its historical significance. There will also be events to promote partnerships between companies from both countries in the venture and startup sectors, which will lead the future of Korea and China."

When asked about the possibility of a K-pop performance, Spokesperson Kang said, "The Blue House has never officially included a China-related cultural performance in the schedule," and added, "The detailed itinerary is still being coordinated with China, and National Security Office Director Wi Sunglak will provide a briefing on January 2."

She continued, "There will be a summit meeting and state banquet with President Xi in Beijing, and meetings with other Chinese leaders are also being coordinated. As meetings with the Korean community have always been included in the diplomatic schedule, there will also be an opportunity to listen to their voices."

Regarding whether an economic delegation will accompany the visit, she said, "It is difficult to specify the exact size or names," but added, "There are expectations for mutually beneficial economic outcomes in areas such as core mineral supply chains, mutual investment promotion, the digital economy, and eco-friendly industries. Several memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between relevant ministries are also expected to be signed." As for whether issues such as the ban on Korean cultural content in China (the 'Korean Wave ban') will be discussed at the summit, she said, "It is difficult to specify the exact agenda," and added, "Some agenda items are still being coordinated between the two leaders, and the meeting will also provide an opportunity to discuss the situation in Northeast Asia within the framework of cooperative relations."

Regarding the timing and background of the visit, Spokesperson Kang explained, "Both sides extended state invitations to each other during the APEC summit. The summit meeting with President Xi was confirmed at APEC, and this visit appears to have been coordinated as a reciprocal visit." She added, "President Lee had previously expressed his desire to visit China at an early date, and various circumstances were considered in coordinating this visit."