Lee’s Four‑Day State Visit Marks First Korean Presidency in China in Years Lee Jae Myung spent four days in China, the first South Korean presidential visit in seven years and the first state visit in nine years, meeting Xi Jinping for a second summit within two months. He led a 400‑member business delegation to forums in Beijing and Shanghai, discussing AI, cultural content, and supply‑chain cooperation. The itinerary also included meetings with Premier Li Qiang and legislator Zhao Lei ji, underscoring a blend of political and commercial outreach. All parties presented the trip as a concrete step toward normalizing relations after years of diplomatic strain. [1][2][3][4]

Summit Aimed at Restoring Full Diplomatic Relations and Expanding Economic Ties Lee declared the summit could make 2026 “the first year of full‑scale restoration” of Korea‑China relations, and Xi echoed the sentiment of a “new era” of ties. Fourteen memorandums covering technology, trade, environment and intellectual property were signed, alongside nine corporate MOUs on consumer goods and cultural content. Lee emphasized expanding Korean cultural exports such as TV dramas and films, and highlighted cooperation in high‑tech sectors like artificial intelligence. The agreements were portrayed as translating political rapprochement into tangible economic and cultural projects. [1][4]

Lee Requested Chinese Mediation on North Korean Nuclear Threats Amid Missile Launches During the summit, Lee asked Xi to act as a mediator on North Korean denuclearization and broader peninsula stability, a request framed against recent North Korean ballistic and hypersonic missile tests. South Korean officials said Beijing signaled willingness to play a constructive role, linking security cooperation to the broader diplomatic reset. Lee’s appeal combined with calls for coordinated economic engagement, reflecting a dual‑track approach to security and trade. The urgency of the missile launches was highlighted as a catalyst for seeking Chinese involvement. [2][3][4]

Yellow Sea Steel Structures Became Central Maritime Dispute Point Lee raised Beijing’s installation of steel structures in overlapping Yellow Sea waters, which Seoul views as groundwork for territorial claims, and demanded partial removal. Both sides agreed to continue consultations and to hold vice‑ministerial talks on the maritime boundary within the year. The issue was presented as a concrete test of the restored relationship, juxtaposed with broader economic cooperation. The pledge to keep the Yellow Sea “peaceful and co‑prosperous” signaled Seoul’s readiness to address security sensitivities directly. [2][3][4]