President Lee Calls for "A New Chapter in Korea-China Relations"... Xi Stresses "Correct and Proper Strategic Choices" (Comprehensive)

President Lee and Xi Jinping Hold 90-Minute Korea-China Summit, Exceeding Schedule by 30 Minutes
"An Important Opportunity to Make 2026 the Inaugural Year for Full Restoration of Korea-China Relations"... Xi: "Steadfastly Safeguard the Direction of F

President Lee Jaemyung, currently on a state visit to China, emphasized during a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the afternoon of January 5 (local time) that this meeting marks a significant milestone, designating 2026 as the inaugural year of a full restoration of Korea-China relations. He also proposed that the two countries work together to seek practical alternatives for peace on the Korean Peninsula. This state visit by a South Korean president to China is the first in about eight years since December 2017. The summit, which began at 4:47 p.m., lasted for 90 minutes, exceeding the scheduled time by 30 minutes.

Yonhap News Agency

Both leaders agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation between Korea and China. In his opening remarks, President Lee stated, "This Korea-China summit will serve as an important opportunity to make 2026 the inaugural year of a full restoration of Korea-China relations," and added, "I hope to open a new chapter in the development of Korea-China relations together with President Xi, keeping pace with the trends and changes of the times." President Xi responded, "China must steadfastly uphold the direction of friendly cooperation with Korea," and emphasized, "The cooperative partnership between our two countries should develop along a healthy trajectory."

President Lee also referenced the shared experience of the anti-Japanese resistance in the past, proposing that the two countries open a new chapter in their relationship. "The roots of Korea-China relations are very deep," he said. "For thousands of years, we have maintained friendly relations as neighboring countries, and during the period when our sovereignty was lost, we joined hands and fought together to restore it." He continued, "Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, we have developed an inseparable and mutually beneficial cooperative relationship. I hope to open a new chapter in the development of Korea-China relations together with President Xi, in line with the trends and changes of the times."

In particular, he called for the pursuit of practical alternatives for peace on the Korean Peninsula. President Lee said, "Based on the trust between myself and President Xi, I will firmly establish the political and emotional foundations of Korea-China relations," and added, "We will continue mutually beneficial cooperation in areas directly related to the daily lives of our people and intensify efforts to address livelihood issues." Regarding peace on the Korean Peninsula, he further stated, "We must seek practical alternatives together and ensure that both countries can jointly contribute to peace, which is the fundamental basis for prosperity and growth."

President Xi responded, "As the international situation becomes more turbulent, our two countries must provide positive energy for maintaining regional peace and promoting global development." He continued, "With our broad common interests, we must stand on the right side of history and make correct and appropriate strategic choices. The Chinese side must steadfastly uphold the direction of friendly cooperation with the Korean side, maintain the spirit of mutually beneficial coexistence, and pursue the healthy development of our strategic cooperative partnership."

Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the Blue House, said in a written briefing after the summit, "The two leaders agreed that it is important to make the West Sea a 'sea of peace and co-prosperity' for the stable and long-term development of Korea-China relations, and they will continue constructive consultations on the issue of structures in the West Sea." She added, "At this summit, both sides reaffirmed that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are in the common interest of Korea and China, and confirmed China's commitment to playing a constructive role in this regard."

Signing Ceremony for 15 MOUs Held Immediately After the Summit... Regularization of Ministerial Meetings, etc.

Yonhap News Agency

After the summit, a signing ceremony was held in the presence of both leaders for 15 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) aimed at strengthening exchanges between the two countries. Korea and China signed an "MOU on the Establishment of a Dialogue for Commercial Cooperation," which regularizes Korea-China ministerial meetings, and an "MOU on Strengthening Industrial Park Cooperation" to promote investment between industrial parks and solidify cooperation in industry and supply chains.

They also signed an "MOU on Cooperation in Small and Medium Enterprises and Innovation" to expand cooperation in the SME sector to include ventures and startups and strengthen the innovation ecosystem. The two sides signed an "MOU on Digital Technology Cooperation" to enhance collaboration in the digital economy, an "MOU on Environmental and Climate Cooperation" to broaden environmental cooperation from a focus on air quality to climate change, and an "MOU on Cooperation for the Protection of Children's Rights and Welfare Promotion" to address the shared challenges of low birth rates and an aging population in both countries.

Additionally, the two countries signed an "MOU on Sanitary Measures for the Export and Import of Wild (Natural) Aquatic Products" to expand the scope of Korea's exports of natural aquatic products, and an "MOU on Food Safety Cooperation" to facilitate the rapid entry of Korean food companies into the Chinese market. They also signed an "MOU on Deepening Cooperation in Intellectual Property" and an "MOU on Mutual Cooperation for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights at the Border" to strengthen the protection of intellectual property and enhance the competitiveness of Korean companies entering China.

China Receives a Pair of Stone Lion Statues as a Gift: "Expecting to Enhance Friendly Sentiment Between Korean and Chinese People"

Yonhap News Agency

Meanwhile, spokesperson Kang explained that the "pair of stone lion statues" that Korea has decided to donate to China are Chinese artifacts purchased in Japan in the 1930s by Jeon Hyeongpil, who dedicated his life to the preservation of Korean cultural assets. She said, "In accordance with Mr. Jeon's wishes that these Chinese artifacts should one day be returned to their homeland, the Kansong Art Museum began pursuing the donation to China in 2016, but the process was halted due to various difficulties. On the occasion of this Korea-China summit, the National Museum of Korea has now signed a donation agreement with the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China."

In China, stone lion statues are traditionally believed to ward off misfortune and bring wealth, and are usually placed at the main entrance of homes or in front of tombs. As it is winter, the statues are expected to be delivered to China around April or May. After the MOU signing ceremony, President Xi confirmed once again that the stone lion statues provided by the Kansong Art Museum had been brought from Japan, and discussed this with President Lee. The Blue House expressed hope that this donation of the stone lion statues would help enhance the sense of friendship between the peoples of Korea and China.