President Lee Concludes Four-Day State Visit to China... Returns Home After Visiting the Provisional Government Office in Shanghai

Visit to Provisional Government Office in Shanghai on the 7th
Returning Home After Four Days of State Visit
Meetings with China's Top Three Leaders
First Business Forum in Nine Years

On January 7 (local time), President Lee Jae-myung concluded the final schedule of his state visit to China in Shanghai and began his journey back to Korea. In Shanghai, he also held a briefing session with the Blue House press corps to personally explain the significance of his visit.

During his visit to China, President Lee met with President Xi Jinping and the top three leaders in China's power hierarchy, proposing to strengthen bilateral relations. In the economic sector, he initiated the first Korea-China Business Forum in nine years, creating a new platform for cooperation between Korean and Chinese companies.

President Lee Returns Home After Visiting the Provisional Government Office in Shanghai

Yonhap News Agency

President Lee's first official event of the day was attending the Korea-China Venture Startup Summit held in Shanghai. The summit was themed "From Connection to Co-Growth: The Korea-China Startup Ecosystem." Afterwards, President Lee held a meeting with the Blue House press corps to directly explain the significance of his state visit.

Later, President Lee visited the Korean Provisional Government Office in Shanghai. This year marks the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu's birth and the 100th anniversary of the Provisional Government. President Lee took this opportunity to honor the sacrifices and dedication of independence activists. Kim Yongman, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea and great-grandson of Kim Gu, accompanied the president on the visit. With this visit to the Provisional Government Office, President Lee concluded his four-day, three-night state visit to China and began his return to Korea.

Previously, President Lee arrived in Beijing on January 4 and traveled to Shanghai on the afternoon of January 6. Shanghai is considered China's economic and financial hub, as well as a center for international trade in artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging industries. President Lee had previously expressed his strong desire to visit Shanghai at least once.

On January 6, President Lee attended a banquet hosted by Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining. He stated, "I hope this visit to China will serve as an opportunity for Korea-China relations to advance to a completely new stage and resolve all lingering issues that have existed between our countries."

During his visit, President Lee met with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Chang, and Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, discussing topics such as expanding economic cooperation and ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Proposing "Baduk and Soccer" Exchanges to Xi Jinping... The Xiaomi Selfie Was President Lee's Idea

President Lee Jae-myung and his wife, along with President Xi Jinping and his wife, are taking a commemorative photo with a Xiaomi phone after the state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on the 5th. This Xiaomi phone was a gift from President Xi to President Lee during the Gyeongju summit. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On January 5 (local time), President Lee held a summit meeting and attended a state banquet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. According to Blue House spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung, President Lee explained to President Xi, "The Korean stock market has reached an all-time high. This reflects the hope and expectations for improved Korea-China relations."

President Lee also suggested holding exchange events such as Baduk (Go) tournaments or soccer matches, keeping in mind the potential lifting of the "Korean Wave ban" (a ban on Korean content in China). According to spokesperson Kang, President Xi responded, "There is no problem with that." However, President Xi also remarked, "Three feet of ice do not melt all at once, and fruit falls naturally when it ripens." This metaphor implied that a complete lifting of the Korean Wave ban would require time and a gradual, step-by-step approach.

Regarding the sensitive issue of structures in the West Sea, which has been a contentious topic between Korea and China, President Xi was reported to have listened attentively to President Lee's remarks. Spokesperson Kang stated, "Our position is that the West Sea should become a sea of joint prosperity for both countries, and discussions have progressed to the point of addressing this matter at a practical level."

The "Xiaomi phone selfie," which attracted attention during the summit, was President Lee's idea. President Lee received a Xiaomi phone as a gift from President Xi during the Gyeongju Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. President Lee initially intended to take a photo of the welcome bouquet with the Xiaomi phone and send it to President Xi, but then spontaneously came up with the idea of taking a selfie together. Immediately after the summit, a signing ceremony was held for 14 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between government ministries and agencies of both countries, as well as a certificate for the donation of a pair of Qing Dynasty stone lion statues from China to Korea.

Korea-China Business Forum Held for the First Time in Nine Years During State Visit to China

President Lee Jae-myung, who is on a state visit to China, is speaking during a meeting with Premier Li Chang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on the 6th. Photo by Yonhap News

On January 6, President Lee met with Premier Li Chang, who is ranked second in China's leadership. President Lee said, "Let us exchange our views on the direction of our bilateral relations as candidly as old friends would. I hope this will mark a turning point for a dramatic development in Korea-China relations." He also quoted the saying, "Friends get better with age, and clothes are better when new."

On the same day, President Lee also met with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, who is the equivalent of the Speaker of the National Assembly. President Lee said, "I believe the role of the National People's Congress is more important than ever," and requested the chairman's and the Congress's active support to further develop Korea-China relations based on strong mutual trust.

The Korea-China Business Forum, held for the first time in nine years, was considered a major achievement in the economic sector. The forum, held in Beijing on January 5, was attended by 416 representatives from 161 Korean companies, over 200 Chinese business leaders, and a total of more than 600 participants. Companies from both countries explored various avenues for cooperation in fields such as manufacturing, consumer goods, and services, aiming to create new areas of economic collaboration based on the complementary strengths of each country's industries.

Addressing the business leaders of both countries, President Lee emphasized the importance of continued economic cooperation, stating, "Even during times of diplomatic tension and conflict, trade through Byeokrando never ceased." He then proposed that Korea and China should actively pursue cooperation in manufacturing and vibrant cultural exchanges.