South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to embark on a State Visit to China early next week for summit discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit aims to enhance strategic cooperation and bolster bilateral economic relations. Lee will head to Beijing on Sunday for talks with Xi, followed by a visit to Shanghai before returning home on Wednesday, as per presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.
The upcoming meeting will be the second between the two leaders since their initial summit on Nov. 1 during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea. This visit signifies Lee’s first official trip to China since assuming office in June and the first state visit by a South Korean president to China since 2017. The discussions are anticipated to further solidify the “strategic cooperative partnership” between the two countries, focusing on achieving concrete outcomes beneficial to both nations, including collaboration in supply chain investments, the digital economy, and combating transnational crime.
Lee’s visit comes amidst his commitment to maintaining stable relations with China, South Korea’s primary trading partner and a significant supporter of North Korea. Seoul is actively working to resume dialogue with Pyongyang and has urged Beijing to play a constructive role in facilitating this process. During his time in Shanghai, Lee will commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Korean independence hero Kim Gu (1876-1949) and the centennial anniversary of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea’s establishment in the city.
Additionally, Lee is scheduled to participate in business events aimed at fostering partnerships between venture and startup companies from both countries. The visit is expected to involve the signing of multiple memorandums of understanding across various cooperation areas, with details to be disclosed later. Notably, a significant business delegation led by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, including prominent figures like Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, is anticipated to accompany Lee on the trip.
