Lee Declares China Visit Sets Foundation for Full Restoration of Ties
Updated (4 articles)
Four-Day State Visit Marks Historic Diplomatic Reset President Lee Jae Myung spent Jan. 4‑7 in Beijing on a four‑day state visit, the first South Korean presidential trip to China in seven years and the first state visit in nine years[4]. He held a second summit with President Xi Jinping within two months, meeting also with Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji[1][2]. A 400‑member South Korean business delegation attended a Beijing forum, underscoring the blend of political and commercial outreach[2].
Economic Cooperation Targets AI, Trade, and Cultural Content The leaders signed 14 memorandums covering technology, trade, environment, transportation and intellectual property, and nine corporate MOUs on consumer goods, supply chains and cultural content[4]. Lee emphasized expanding artificial‑intelligence collaboration and securing broader access for Korean TV dramas, films and other cultural products in China[4]. Business events in Beijing and Shanghai highlighted startups and AI, reflecting Seoul’s push for tangible economic gains beyond symbolic gestures[2].
Security Coordination Focuses on North Korea and Regional Tensions Lee asked Xi to act as a mediator on North Korean nuclear issues and to cooperate on denuclearization amid recent North Korean ballistic‑missile launches[2][3]. The summit occurred against heightened China‑Japan friction over Taiwan and U.S. regional actions, prompting Lee to stress “pragmatic diplomacy” centered on national interests[1]. Both sides framed the dialogue as a way to keep communication channels open while managing shared security challenges[4].
Yellow Sea Steel Structures Become Central Maritime Dispute Lee raised Beijing’s installation of steel structures in overlapping Yellow Sea waters, labeling them a potential basis for territorial claims and demanding their partial removal[2][3]. China and South Korea agreed to continue consultations and to hold vice‑ministerial talks on the maritime boundary within the year[4]. The issue was highlighted as a concrete point of tension that Seoul expects Beijing to address promptly[1].
Lee Claims Visit Laid Foundation for Full Restoration After returning, Lee told senior aides the trip “laid a solid foundation for the full restoration of Korea‑China relations,” positioning the visit as a turning point toward normalized ties[1]. He framed the outcome as both symbolic and practical, linking renewed political ties to expected economic and cultural cooperation[1]. Lee pledged to pursue pragmatic diplomacy, balancing relations with China against broader regional alliances and interests[1].
Sources (4 articles)
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[1]
Yonhap: Lee says China visit laid foundation for full restoration of ties: Lee declares the state visit created a solid base for fully restoring Korea‑China relations, emphasizing pragmatic diplomacy and future cooperation.
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[2]
Yonhap: President Lee returns from four-day China visit after talks with Xi to boost ties and press Beijing on Yellow Sea structures: Details the visit’s economic agenda, North Korea coordination, and Lee’s demand that China remove steel structures in the Yellow Sea.
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[3]
Yonhap: President Lee returns from four-day China visit after summit with Xi on economy and North Korea: Highlights the summit’s focus on economic ties, cultural exchange, and security coordination, including the request for Chinese mediation on North Korean issues.
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[4]
Yonhap: Lee and Xi meet in Beijing as leaders seek to restore ties and cooperate on North Korea and Yellow Sea: Describes the historic summit, signing of 14 memorandums, and agreements on Yellow Sea consultations and vice‑ministerial talks.
Timeline
2017 – South Korea deploys the U.S. THAAD missile‑defence system, prompting a strong protest from Beijing and ushering in a period of strained Korea‑China relations that later administrations have struggled to repair. [4]
Jan 6, 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung meets President Xi Jinping in Beijing for a warm 90‑minute summit, the first visit by a South Korean president in seven years and the first state visit in nine years. Lee declares 2026 “the first year of full‑scale restoration of Korea‑China relations,” while Xi calls the talks a foundation for a “new era.” The leaders sign 14 memorandums covering technology, trade, environment and intellectual property, and agree to continue consultations on Chinese steel structures in the overlapping Yellow Sea zone, scheduling vice‑ministerial talks within the year. [4]
Jan 6, 2026 – Hours before Lee’s arrival, North Korea launches ballistic missiles and later claims a hypersonic missile test, heightening regional security concerns. Lee stresses that cooperation with China is essential to bring Pyongyang back to dialogue and to prevent further escalation. [4]
Jan 7, 2026 – Lee returns to Seoul after a four‑day state visit, telling reporters he asked Xi to act as a mediator on Korean‑Peninsula issues, including North Korea’s nuclear programme, and to expand cultural exchanges. He also presses Beijing to remove part of its steel structures in the contested Yellow Sea waters, linking maritime sovereignty directly to the diplomatic agenda. [2]
Jan 7, 2026 – Leading a 400‑member South Korean business delegation, Lee attends a Beijing forum that produces nine corporate MOUs on artificial intelligence, consumer‑goods supply chains and cultural content. He also joins a Shanghai startup event and visits the historic site of the Korean provisional government, underscoring a blend of economic outreach and symbolic diplomacy. [2]
Jan 8, 2026 – Back at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee tells senior aides the China visit “laid a solid foundation for the full restoration of Korea‑China relations,” framing the trip as a turning point that will boost economic and cultural exchanges. He pledges “pragmatic diplomacy” amid China‑Japan tensions over Taiwan and a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, signalling Seoul’s intent to balance great‑power pressures while prioritising national interests. [1]