President Lee to Hold Korea-China Summit with Xi Jinping on the 5th: "Over 10 MOUs on Livelihood and Economic Cooperation to Be Signed"

Wi Sunglak, National Security Office Director, Briefing
Strengthening the Political and Emotional Foundation of Friendship, Enhanced Communication for Peace on the Korean Peninsula Expected
Meetings with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People's Congress, and Premier Li Qiang on January 6
Attending the Korea-China Venture and Startup Summit in Shanghai on January 7
Visiting the Former Korean Provisional Government Building

On January 5, President Lee Jaemyung will hold an official welcome ceremony, summit meeting, memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony, and state banquet with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China. The Blue House views this state visit as a watershed moment for the full restoration of Korea-China relations and plans to put issues such as cooperation for people's livelihoods and peace on the Korean Peninsula on the agenda for the leaders’ discussions. In particular, the two countries have agreed to sign more than 10 MOUs, including those related to cooperation on people's livelihoods and the economy. This state visit to China will take place over four days and three nights, from January 4 to 7, during which President Lee will carry out his schedule in both Beijing and Shanghai.

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At a briefing at the Chunchugwan press center of the Blue House on the morning of January 2, National Security Office Director Wi Sunglak stated, "On the morning of the 5th, the President will attend the Korea-China Business Forum, where he will interact with business leaders from both countries and discuss ways to create new areas of economic cooperation based on the complementary advantages of both countries’ industries in manufacturing, consumer goods, and services." He continued, "In the afternoon, the President will join President Xi for a series of events, starting with the official welcome ceremony, followed by the summit meeting, MOU signing ceremony, and the state banquet. The MOUs will cover more than 10 areas, including the economy and industry, climate and environment, and transportation."

Director Wi added, "This visit is a reciprocal visit, taking place just over two months after President Xi’s state visit to Korea in November. It is unprecedented for the leaders of Korea and China to pay state visits to each other's countries at two-month intervals and to begin the new year with their first diplomatic summit together."

The Blue House outlined the expected outcomes of this visit as follows: strengthening the political and emotional foundation for the full restoration of Korea-China relations; enhancing practical cooperation in areas related to people's livelihoods based on horizontal and mutually beneficial cooperation; reinforcing communication between Korea and China for peace on the Korean Peninsula; and ensuring stable management of sensitive issues between the two countries. Director Wi stated, "Based on the deep friendship and strong trust between Korea and China, we will restore the strategic dialogue channel between the two countries and solidify the political foundation of Korea-China relations. We will also strengthen the preservation of sites related to the independence movement in China and promote cultural and human exchanges to further reinforce the emotional foundation of friendship between Korea and China."

He also announced plans to strengthen cooperation in areas related to people's livelihoods. Director Wi said, "By promoting horizontal and mutually beneficial cooperation in line with changes in the structure of Korea-China economic cooperation, we will achieve concrete and tangible results that allow the peoples of both countries to truly feel the full restoration of relations." He added, "We will pursue win-win cooperation in areas directly connected to the daily lives of the Korean and Chinese peoples, such as supply chain investment, the digital economy, venture startups, environment, climate change, human exchanges, tourism, and responses to transnational crime, leveraging each country’s comparative advantages and expanding our shared interests."

He also stated that communication for peace on the Korean Peninsula will be strengthened on the occasion of this summit. Director Wi said, "We will ask China to play a constructive role so that the full restoration of Korea-China relations can also help create a breakthrough in resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula. Livelihood and peace are inseparable, and both Korea and China share the common goal of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia." He emphasized, "Through realistic efforts to resolve issues on the Korean Peninsula, we will create a feasible path forward by strengthening strategic communication between Korea and China."

He also said that sensitive issues between the two countries will be managed stably. Director Wi explained, "In line with the full restoration of Korea-China relations, we will work to make the West Sea a sea of peace and prosperity, and gradually and step by step restore exchanges of cultural content."

On the first day of his visit, January 4, President Lee will have a dinner meeting with Korean nationals residing in China as his first official event upon arrival in Beijing. On January 6, he will meet with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (the equivalent of the Speaker of the National Assembly in China), and then meet with Premier Li Qiang, regarded as China’s economic chief, for a luncheon. Director Wi noted that with Chairman Zhao, President Lee is expected to discuss ways to "promote friendship and goodwill between the peoples of Korea and China," and with Premier Li, "horizontal cooperation in line with changes of the times."

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After completing his schedule in Beijing, President Lee will travel to Shanghai on January 6 to attend a dinner with Chen Jining, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee. The presidential office expects that this meeting will cover a wide range of topics, including exchanges between local governments, human exchanges, and the preservation and management of sites related to the independence movement. On January 7, President Lee will attend the Korea-China Venture and Startup Summit in Shanghai, where he will interact with young entrepreneurs leading digital innovation in fields such as content, healthcare, infrastructure, and energy. He will then visit the former Korean Provisional Government building in Shanghai as the final official event of his state visit. Director Wi stated, "Following the 80th anniversary of Liberation in 2025, we will commemorate the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu’s birth and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Provisional Government in Shanghai in 2026, honoring the sacrifices and dedication of independence activists and celebrating our shared historical experiences."