Gifts President Lee Received from President Xi Jinping: "Electric Bicycle, Porcelain, and Fruit"

President Lee Jae-myung and President Xi Jinping 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

It was confirmed on January 8 that President Lee Jaemyung received gifts such as an electric bicycle from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to political sources, President Xi presented President Lee, who visited China as a state guest, with an electric bicycle, a set of porcelain and teacups, a painting, and a CD of songs by Peng Liyuan, President Xi's wife.

In addition, President Xi is said to have also given fruit gifts such as apples and dried persimmons. During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju in October last year, President Lee had given Hwangnam bread to President Xi. The fruit gifts appear to be a gesture in return for this.

However, the presidential office did not officially disclose the gifts received from China, in accordance with diplomatic protocol.

During a press conference held in Shanghai the previous day, President Lee remarked, "When we exchanged gifts, I noticed that they had prepared a lot, but we had prepared so little that I felt sorry."

President Lee presented President Xi with a painting of a qilin and a gold-embossed dragon frame. The qilin painting symbolizes prosperity of descendants and longevity. He also gave Peng Liyuan a 'Tamwha Norigae,' a traditional Korean ornament, and a beauty device as gifts.