South Korea Sees China as important partner on Korean Peninsula ahead
Addressing Korean residents, Lee emphasized China’s historic role in regional diplomacy, noting that Beijing hosted six-party talks aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.
"China is a very important cooperative partner in moving toward peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula," he said.
Lee also pledged to bridge gaps in Korea-China relations and elevate ties to a new level. This visit marks his first trip to China since taking office in June last year, and the first visit by a South Korean president to China since 2019.
During his visit, Lee will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, their second meeting in two months following talks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November.
Discussions are expected to focus on economic cooperation and advancing peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula, as well as Beijing’s support in addressing ongoing regional issues.
Accompanied by a large business delegation, Lee will attend a Korea-China economic forum in Beijing to explore partnerships in areas including artificial intelligence, green energy, supply chains, and tourism. The two countries are expected to sign over ten memorandums of understanding to formalize cooperation.
Lee will also meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji before traveling to Shanghai for a startup event with Korean and Chinese entrepreneurs, returning to South Korea on Wednesday.
On Friday, Lee told Chinese state media, “respecting the one-China principle and maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia, including in the Taiwan Strait, are very important.”
Lee’s visit coincides with North Korea conducting its first ballistic missile launches since November, raising regional security concerns.
China and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1992, with bilateral trade exceeding $267 billion in 2024.
Separately, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a five-day visit to meet Xi and Li, marking the first Irish premier visit in 14 years.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
