Beijing: The Blue House (Cheonga Wa Dae) announced that South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will pay a state visit to China early next week for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to strengthen strategic cooperation and bilateral economic relations.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Lee is scheduled to depart for Beijing next Sunday for the summit with Xi. On Tuesday, Lee will travel to Shanghai before returning to Korea on Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Kang Yeo-jung stated in a press briefing.
This will be the second meeting between the two leaders since their first summit on November 1, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea. This is Lee’s first visit to China since taking office in early June, and the first state visit by a South Korean president to China since 2017.
Their first meeting in two months is expected to further boost momentum toward fully restoring the “strategic cooperative partnership” between the two countries, according to a spokesperson. “The two sides are expected to discuss ways to achieve tangible results that directly benefit the people of both countries, including cooperation on supply chain investments, the digital economy, and combating transnational crime,” Kang said.
The visit comes as Lee pledges to manage relations with China, South Korea’s largest trading partner and a major economic backer of North Korea, in a stable manner, amid Seoul’s efforts to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. Seoul has urged Beijing to play a constructive role in creating conditions for resuming dialogue with North Korea, while China has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting stability on the Korean Peninsula.
During his visit to Shanghai, Lee will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Korean independence hero Kim Gu (1876-1949) and the centennial of the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in the Chinese city. Kim was a prominent leader in the independence movement during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945) of Korea and served as president of the Provisional Government in Shanghai.
Kang said Lee will also attend business events aimed at fostering partnerships between startups and high-risk companies from both countries. She added that the two countries plan to sign several memoranda of understanding covering various areas of cooperation during the visit, noting that details will be announced later.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Lee is expected to be accompanied on the visit by a large business delegation headed by SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won. Sources also indicated that the delegation organized by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry is likely to include Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group CEO Chung Eui-sun, and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo.