President Lee Visits Shanghai: "Korea and China Must Resolve Frictions and Advance Toward a New Relationship"

President Lee attends banquet hosted by Chen Jining, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee
Stresses overcoming anti-Chinese and anti-Korean sentiments
"Minimize baseless misunderstandings between peoples, foster goodwill"
"Sha

President Lee Jaemyung, currently on a state visit to China, stated on January 6 (local time) that this visit would serve as a significant opportunity for Korea-China relations to advance to an entirely new stage and for all existing points of friction to be resolved. Regarding the future of Korea-China relations, he emphasized, "What truly matters is the goodwill and friendly feelings between the peoples of our two countries," stressing the need to foster such sentiments and become exemplary neighbors.

Yonhap News Agency

President Lee made these remarks at a banquet hosted by Chen Jining, Shanghai Party Secretary, at the Shanghai World Guest House in the afternoon. President Lee said, "For a long time, groundless and unnecessary misunderstandings, distortions, and a few incorrect elements have worsened the perceptions that Koreans have of the Chinese people and vice versa." He analyzed, "As a result, the development of Korea-China relations has been hindered in many respects."

He emphasized the importance of minimizing misunderstandings between Korea and China and maximizing friendly sentiments. President Lee said, "If there are any elements of conflict or friction, we should minimize them and maximize the elements that are beneficial, so that we can move forward as excellent neighbors together." He called for mutual efforts to overcome anti-Korean and anti-Chinese sentiments.

President Lee went on to express his hope that this visit to China would serve as a turning point to resolve all past issues and leap forward into a new era of Korea-China relations. He shared, "Whenever President Xi Jinping sees me, he says, 'We are neighbors who cannot move away, and our relationship is inseparable.'" He added, "There are many fields in which our two countries can cooperate, including people-to-people exchanges, cultural sectors, and even military and security areas."

Yonhap News Agency

President Lee also outlined specific directions for cooperation, including the economy, people-to-people exchanges, culture, and military security. He said, "The most practical issue is the livelihood of our people, that is, cooperation in the economic sector, which is directly related to the everyday lives of our citizens." Referring to China's 15th Five-Year Economic Development Plan, he stated, "I hope that Korea can also contribute to the implementation of this plan and, in the process, find opportunities for our own growth and development."

President Lee also spoke about the historical significance of Shanghai. He said, "Shanghai was an important hub for exchanges between the Korean Peninsula and the Chinese mainland long ago, and during the period when our sovereignty was lost, it was the base where our forebears fought for liberation and independence, giving it special meaning." He continued, "This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Kim Koo and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Provisional Government in Shanghai, making it a particularly meaningful year." He expressed his gratitude to the city of Shanghai for its excellent management of historical sites related to the independence movement, including the Provisional Government building, on behalf of the Korean people. He added, "Properly illuminating the historical records of our fierce joint struggle to protect national sovereignty can serve as a valuable lesson for future generations."

President Lee also expressed his appreciation regarding the issue of fine dust. He said, "We used to suffer greatly from fine dust every spring, but at some point, it was significantly alleviated, and I learned that this was due to the efforts of the Mayor of Shanghai. I am grateful for that," adding, "Your capabilities are outstanding. This is a remarkable achievement."

Earlier, in his welcoming remarks, Party Secretary Chen stated, "Korea and China are neighbors who cannot move away from each other and are inseparable partners in cooperation." He continued, "Over the past 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, we have actively promoted exchanges and cooperation, overcoming differences in systems and ideologies, and have grown together."

Party Secretary Chen also mentioned the close economic ties between Shanghai and Korea, noting that trade volume between the two accounts for about 10% of the total trade between Korea and China. He added, "There are about 3,200 Korean companies operating in Shanghai, around 27,000 Korean residents, and approximately 3,700 Korean students." He also explained, "There are about 400 flights per week between Shanghai and Korea."