President Lee Returns to Seoul After State Visit to China... Reviewing Visit Achievements

Second Korea-China Summit:
"2026 Will Mark the First Year of Full Restoration of Korea-China Relations"
Shanghai Vice Mayor Sees President Lee Off, Presents Photo Album Documenting His Visit

President Lee Jaemyung returned to Seoul Airport on the night of the 7th after completing a four-day state visit to China.

Yonhap News Agency

Democratic Party leader Jung Cheongrae, Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hojoong, and Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hunsik greeted President Lee and the First Lady at the airport. President Lee shook hands with each of them in turn, and Chief of Staff Kang remarked to the President, "It's cold. Thank you for your hard work." Earlier, at the departure hall of Shanghai Pudong Airport, Ambassador to China Noh Jaehun and Shanghai Vice Mayor Xie Dong saw President Lee off, with Vice Mayor Xie presenting a photo album capturing moments from President Lee's stay in Shanghai as a gift.

Meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time in two months since the Gyeongju summit, President Lee stated, "This will serve as an important opportunity to make 2026 the first year of a full restoration of Korea-China relations." President Xi welcomed President Lee's visit, responding that they had "laid a solid foundation for a new era in Korea-China relations." Furthermore, progress was made on sensitive issues, including the West Sea structures and the 'Korean Wave Ban.' President Lee plans to focus on building upon the achievements of the state visit to China after his return.

Arriving in China on the 4th, President Lee began his official schedule by meeting with Korean nationals residing in China, promising active government support. On the 5th, he attended the Korea-China Business Forum, which saw a large turnout of business leaders from both countries, delivered a speech, and held his second summit with President Xi. President Lee evaluated the visit as a significant diplomatic event that would strengthen Korea's national interests amid a changing international order and develop Korea-China relations in a more stable and mature direction.

On the third day of the visit, January 6, President Lee focused on expanding parliamentary and government channels by meeting with key Chinese political leaders. He held successive meetings with Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation and exchanges.

After completing his schedule in Beijing, President Lee traveled to Shanghai, where he attended a dinner with Chen Jining, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee. At the dinner, President Lee emphasized, "What truly matters is the friendly feelings between the peoples of both countries," stressing that efforts to ease deteriorating mutual perceptions form the foundation of Korea-China relations.

On the day of his return, January 7, President Lee attended events related to Korea-China startups, then held an impromptu press briefing to answer questions about the outcomes of his visit and current issues. The briefing focused on the normalization of cultural and people-to-people exchanges. President Lee noted that President Xi had made remarks suggesting the possibility of easing restrictions, expressed his intention to seek gradual progress through working-level consultations, and emphasized the need to manage sensitive issues such as those related to the West Sea.

Yonhap News Agency

President Lee plans to share the outcomes of his visit to China with his aides at the Blue House and proceed with follow-up measures. In particular, he is expected to implement concrete roadmaps so that the cooperation agendas presented at the summit with President Xi and in meetings with key officials do not remain mere declarations. Additionally, to accelerate the integration of regional governments, he plans to hold a luncheon meeting with National Assembly members representing the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions on the 9th.