President Lee Jae-myung: "Will Meet Xi Jinping at Least Once a Year... Closely Monitoring China-Japan Tensions"

President Lee Jae-myung Holds Press Briefing in China on the 7th
Proposes "Let's Meet Often"... Xi Jinping Says "That's a Good Idea"
On China-Japan Tensions: "Our Role Is Limited"

On January 7 (local time), President Lee Jae-myung stated that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping are considering meeting in person "at least once a year, if possible." This is interpreted as a commitment not only to restoring relations with China but also to further solidifying the friendly atmosphere established between the two countries. However, when asked about the ongoing tensions between China and Japan, he was reserved, saying, "What we can do is very limited."

During his state visit to China, President Lee held a luncheon meeting with the accompanying press corps in Shanghai and made these remarks. President Lee explained, "I mentioned that it would be good for the heads of state to meet about once a year, and President Xi said it was a good idea." President Xi then asked, "Do we have to visit each other every time?" to which President Lee responded, "We can arrange it so that we visit when it is convenient."

President Lee Jae-myung, who is on a state visit to China, is speaking at a luncheon meeting with the press corps held at a hotel in Shanghai on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

President Xi's remarks appear to be made with this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China in mind. According to diplomatic protocol, the next Korea-China summit should be held in Korea, but it is not easy for President Xi to visit Korea in the near future. As a result, President Lee would have to visit China again for a bilateral meeting on the occasion of APEC. President Lee essentially conveyed that he is willing to meet regardless of such formalities.

President Lee went on to say, "High-level dialogue should continue to expand," adding, "I also proposed that inter-party dialogue be made more substantive, and that the level of dialogue in the military sector should be elevated." In particular, President Lee suggested that the two countries conduct joint search and rescue drills to prepare for large-scale maritime accidents that could occur in the West Sea.

When asked about 'China-Japan tensions'... Lee: "Our role is limited"

President Lee maintained a cautious stance on issues related to China-Japan tensions. When asked whether he intended to mediate the strained relationship, given that China has announced export control measures against Japan, President Lee replied, "At this moment, what we can do seems very limited."

President Lee said, "Even among adults, if you intervene in a dispute for a reason, you can end up being disliked by both sides," and argued, "We should monitor the situation closely and only intervene when our role is truly needed, effective, and meaningful." He added, "If we get involved when it is not the right time, it may not be very helpful," offering a cautious response.

However, President Lee also stated, "Peace and stability, as well as solidarity and cooperation in Northeast Asia, are extremely important," expressing a principled position that he hopes the issue will be resolved smoothly and swiftly.

Regarding the potential impact of China-Japan tensions on Korea, President Lee said, "In the short term, it could be related to our processing and exports," and analyzed, "In the long term, it is difficult to predict what kind of impact it may have." He added, "For now, we are closely monitoring the situation and carefully assessing what circumstances we may face."

President Lee also cautioned against overinterpreting President Xi's statement that "we must stand on the right side of history and make strategic choices." President Lee said, "I took that as a Confucian saying," and clarified, "I understood it as meaning we should live virtuously."

He continued, "A summit is where each leader says what they want to say," and dismissed speculation, saying, "Remarks made in public should be taken at face value."