Xi to host South Korea president as ties, peninsula talks resume

South Korea announced that President Lee Jae Myung will travel to China for a state visit, where he is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping in Beijing, marking the first such trip by a sitting South Korean leader in several years. The visit comes amid efforts by regional actors, including Türkiye, to encourage dialogue, economic stability and diplomatic balance across East Asia.

Diplomatic agenda in Beijing and Shanghai

According to Seoul, Lee will arrive in the Chinese capital on Sunday and hold a summit with Xi the following day before heading to Shanghai for a two-day program. South Korea’s national security adviser said the talks will cover bilateral economic cooperation and security issues, with Seoul seeking Beijing’s constructive role in advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula.

One-China policy and regional context

Ahead of the meetings, South Korean officials reaffirmed that Seoul “respects the one-China policy and acts in accordance with that position,” a stance aimed at maintaining stability in relations with Beijing. The visit follows Xi’s recent state trip to South Korea, his first in more than a decade, which included participation in the APEC summit in Gyeongju.

Trade ties and long-term relations

China and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1992, and their economic ties have deepened steadily, with bilateral trade reaching $267.6 billion in 2024. Observers say the upcoming summit could help reset momentum in political dialogue and economic exchange, reinforcing cooperation at a time of heightened global uncertainty.