South Korean Prime Minister Lee Jae Myung Meets Xi Jinping to Renew Ties with China

Historic Meeting Between Lee Jae Myung and Xi Jinping

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in an effort to renew the strained relations with his country’s largest trading partner. The meeting, scheduled for Monday, will address regional security issues and the unofficial bans imposed by Beijing on Korean pop culture.

Experts underscore the significance of China as a vital economic partner, and Lee seeks assurances that China will not wield this relationship as a weapon amid regional political tensions. South Korea, like Japan, is an ally of the United States, which supports Taiwan and supplies arms for its defense.

The Prime Minister arrived in Beijing on Sunday and will participate in a banquet hosted by Xi on Monday. This marks the first visit by a South Korean leader to China since 2019, occurring against a backdrop of deteriorating relations under his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who had been critical of China.

Lee Jae Myung stated that his visit will represent "a new starting point to fill the gaps in South Korea-China relations and restore them to a normal and more advanced level." This meeting takes place amid rising tensions between China and Japan concerning the Taiwan issue.

Lee is also expected to address the North Korean situation, seeking China’s cooperation in pressuring Kim Jong Un’s regime to abandon its nuclear program. He emphasized the importance of China as a cooperative partner in achieving peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula.

Given the current tensions, Lee plans to visit Japan to meet with Takaichi later this month. Additionally, the director of national security in South Korea stated that the country respects the "One China" policy, recognizing Beijing as the sole Chinese government.

Apart from political discussions, Lee aims to tackle the unofficial restrictions imposed on Korean music and dramas, as well as concerns regarding China’s maritime construction activities, which have raised security alarms in Seoul.