South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has begun a four-day state visit to China, holding talks with President Xi Jinping aimed at resetting bilateral relations, strengthening economic cooperation and advancing stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee arrived in Beijing on Sunday, just hours after North Korea launched ballistic missiles toward the sea, underscoring the regional security challenges surrounding the visit. It is his first official trip to China since taking office last June and marks the first visit by a South Korean leader to Beijing in six years.
The visit reflects a renewed diplomatic push by Seoul at a time of heightened geopolitical tension in East Asia, including China’s military activity around Taiwan. While several countries have publicly criticized Beijing’s actions, South Korea has taken a more cautious stance, prioritizing dialogue and regional stability.
Economically, Lee is seeking to recalibrate South Korea–China trade relations toward what his office describes as a more balanced and mutually beneficial framework. He is accompanied by a delegation of more than 200 senior figures from the business and technology sectors, highlighting the commercial significance of the trip.
The delegation includes top executives from South Korea’s largest conglomerates, such as Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, according to South Korean media.
Lee and Xi are expected to meet on Monday, with discussions set to cover supply chain investment, the digital economy, cultural exchanges and broader economic cooperation. Seoul also hopes to leverage Beijing’s influence over Pyongyang to support efforts to ease tensions with North Korea and revive inter-Korean dialogue.
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