Xi and Lee reaffirm China-South Korea ties at second summit in two months
The frequency of their meetings demonstates the importance of the relationship, showing efforts by both sides to stabilise relations
[SEOUL] Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean leader Lee Jae-myung reaffirmed bilateral ties at their second meeting in two months, signalling efforts by both sides to stabilise relations as geopolitical tensions mount.
At their summit in Beijing on Monday (Jan 5), Xi said that the frequency of their meetings showed the importance of the relationship, based on South Korean TV footage showing him speaking through an interpreter.
He added that Beijing and Seoul share common interests, and should step up communication as neighbours.
Lee became the first sitting South Korean president to visit China since 2019, arriving in Beijing on Sunday for a four-day trip that will also include a stop in Shanghai.
The visit follows Xi’s trip to South Korea late October, his first in 11 years, when he emphasised the need for regional peace and stability, and pledged deeper cooperation with Seoul.
“I hope to open a new era of South Korea-China relations together with you,” Lee told Xi. “This summit will serve as an important opportunity, to make 2026 the inaugural year of the full restoration of South Korea-China relations.”
The talks took place against a backdrop of fraught geopolitical tensions.
Just days earlier, the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and brought him to New York for trial. Closer to home, North Korea fired hypersonic missiles on Sunday as Lee arrived in China, a reminder of the security threat South Korea faces.
Lee urged Beijing to help Seoul advance peace on the Korean Peninsula. “Peace is the fundamental foundation for prosperity and growth, and it is essential that our two countries work together to contribute to it,” Lee said.
China remains Pyongyang’s most important backer, providing crucial economic support while the US and its allies maintain sanctions.
In September, Xi hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a military parade in Beijing, where Xi and Kim pledged to deepen ties.
The two countries signed 14 memorandums of understanding covering areas such as fine dust and food exports, and agreed to launch a ministerial-level commerce dialogue channel, Yonhap News reported.
South Korea’s industry ministry said that the first meeting under the new framework will be held in the first half of the year. BLOOMBERG
Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.
Share with us your feedback on BT's products and services
