When President Xi Jinping touched down in the Republic of Korea (ROK) for a milestone state visit—the first by a Chinese leader in 11 years—it signaled a new chapter in Asia’s diplomatic playbook 🤝.
In talks with President Lee Jae-myung, the two pledged to deepen their strategic cooperative partnership, setting the stage for closer ties across economics, culture and beyond.
Over three decades since diplomatic relations began, China and the ROK have become each other’s biggest fans in trade. In 2024, two-way trade hit a record $328.08 billion, up 5.6% year-on-year. For 21 straight years, China has been the ROK’s largest trading partner, while the ROK ranks second for China. Since the China-ROK Free Trade Agreement kicked in in 2015, the ROK’s cosmetics and film and television products have been lapped up by Chinese consumers, while China’s smart home appliances are bestsellers in the ROK.
Cultural exchanges are the heartbeat of this friendship. At Everland Resort in Yongin, Fu Bao—the first panda born in the ROK to parents gifted by China—has become a living symbol of warmth and unity 🐼.
More and more young Koreans are diving into Chinese language classes and planning adventures across the Chinese mainland, from ancient temples to neon-lit cityscapes. Meanwhile, Chinese tourists flock to Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju, snapping pics of street food stalls, K-pop hotspots and royal palaces along the way ✈️.
As both nations write the next chapter of their story, this boost in trade and people-to-people connections leaves us with one thing to say: the future is bright when friends come together 🌏✨.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
