Starting tomorrow, ROK President Lee Jae-myung begins his first state visit to the Chinese mainland, running from January 4 to 7. Fresh off an exclusive interview with China Media Group at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee is aiming to kick bilateral ties into high gear—think of it like a K-Pop collab with global reach. 🎤🌏
Ties Matter More Than Ever 🤝
Amid growing global turbulence and geopolitical tensions, Lee stressed that peace, mutual respect and shared prosperity in Northeast Asia are essential. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has welcomed the visit, calling the two neighbors important partners.
Having weathered misunderstandings in recent years, both sides want to clear obstacles and elevate cooperation to a new level, Lee noted.
Economy in Focus 💼
More than 200 ROK business leaders are joining the trip, including heads of Samsung, SK, Hyundai and LG—imagine a major K-Pop tour where the biggest acts hit the stage in Beijing. This high-level delegation signals ROK companies’ strong confidence in the Chinese market.
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac says roughly 10 MoUs on supply-chain investment, the digital economy, tourism and more are expected to be signed.
Since diplomatic ties began, China has been the ROK’s top trading partner for 21 years. In 2024, bilateral trade hit $328.08 billion, up 5.6 percent year on year.
Tech & Green Energy 🚀🌱
Following the 2015 FTA, cooperation has expanded from manufacturing to cross-border e-commerce and AI. In late December 2025, the Chinese commerce vice minister met his ROK counterpart in Beijing to fast-track second-phase FTA talks, targeting AI and green energy.
Lee noted that finding areas for cooperation amid competition can build a complementary relationship. Last year, ROK consumers spent about ₩4.2 trillion on Chinese e-platforms—an 85 percent jump—and Alibaba Cloud opened its second data center in Seoul.
Green innovation is also booming. Hyundai’s first overseas R&D base for hydrogen fuel cells opened in Guangzhou in 2023. With China leading in solar PV, Lee sees a huge window of opportunity for joint tech ventures.
Upholding the One-China Principle 🏳️
Lee reaffirmed the ROK’s respect for the one-China principle, noting the core consensus from diplomatic normalization remains solid. He emphasized that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are vital and that the ROK will continue to honor mutual core interests and positions.
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What to expect from ROK President Lee Jae-myung's visit to China
cgtn.com
