President Lee Begins State Visit to China Today: Seeking Solutions for Korean Peninsula Peace, Korean Wave Ban, and West Sea Structures

Two Months After the Gyeongju Summit
Expanding South Korea-China Economic Cooperation... Over 10 MOUs to Be Signed
Visit to the Former Provisional Government of Korea Building in Shanghai Also Planned

President Lee Jaemyung will pay a state visit to China from January 4 for four days and three nights at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. This marks the first visit by a South Korean president to China in over six years, since former President Moon Jaein in December 2019. President Lee and President Xi will meet again after approximately two months, following their summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Gyeongju in November last year.

Yonhap News

President Lee plans to solidify the political foundation of the strategic cooperative partnership between South Korea and China by building on the momentum of last year’s summit call in June, the Gyeongju meeting in November, and the Beijing summit this January. He aims to restore the strategic dialogue channel to build trust. In key areas directly impacting people's livelihoods-such as supply chains and investment, the digital economy, ventures and startups, environment and climate, people-to-people exchanges and tourism, and responses to transnational crime-he has set a goal to achieve tangible results through mutually beneficial, horizontal cooperation that leverages each country's comparative advantages. Additionally, under the shared goal of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, he will request China’s constructive role and strengthen strategic communication. Lastly, he plans to manage sensitive issues stably, such as making the West Sea a sea of peace and prosperity and gradually restoring cultural content exchanges.

On January 2, National Security Advisor Wi Sunglak stated, “We will strengthen strategic communication and request China’s constructive role so that the comprehensive restoration of South Korea-China relations can contribute to breakthroughs in resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula.” Regarding the ‘Korean Wave ban,’ he added, “We will approach the issue by expanding consensus on cultural exchanges,” while on the West Sea structure issue, he said, “This was discussed at the summit last November, and working-level consultations have continued since then.”

Upon arrival in Beijing, President Lee’s first official event will be a dinner meeting with South Korean nationals residing in China. He is expected to listen to their voices and introduce the Lee administration’s new policy directions for the year, as well as support measures for overseas Koreans.

On the morning of January 5, he will attend the South Korea-China Business Forum, where he will interact with leading business figures from both countries and discuss ways to create new areas of economic cooperation based on the complementary strengths of the two nations’ industries in manufacturing, consumer goods, and services.

In the afternoon, he will participate in a series of events with President Xi, including an official welcoming ceremony, a summit meeting, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony, and a state banquet. The two leaders plan to engage in in-depth discussions on practical measures to address issues of public welfare and peace faced by both countries, building on their agreement in Gyeongju to fully restore bilateral relations.

On January 6, President Lee will meet Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and then have a luncheon with Premier Li Qiang, China’s top economic policymaker. With Chairman Zhao, discussions will focus on fostering goodwill between the peoples of both countries, while with Premier Li, President Lee is expected to exchange views on developing a new model of economic cooperation based on horizontal collaboration that meets the demands of a changing era.

After completing his schedule in Beijing, President Lee will travel to Shanghai for a dinner with Chen Jining, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee. At the dinner, President Lee plans to have meaningful discussions on local government and people-to-people exchanges between Shanghai-which has led China’s economic growth-and South Korea, as well as on the preservation and management of historic sites related to the Korean independence movement.

On the final day of his visit, January 7, President Lee will attend the South Korea-China Venture Startup Summit in Shanghai, China’s economic center. There, he will interact with young entrepreneurs from both countries who are leading innovation in fields such as content, healthcare, infrastructure, and energy through digital technology, and seek ways to make the venture startup sector a new pillar of future-oriented cooperation between South Korea and China.

As the last official event of his state visit, President Lee will visit the former Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea building in Shanghai. Marking the 80th anniversary of Liberation in 2025, the 150th anniversary of Kim Koo’s birth in 2026, and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai Provisional Government, he plans to honor the sacrifices and dedication of Korean independence activists and commemorate the shared historical experience of South Korea and China working together to restore national sovereignty.