President Lee Jae-myung held summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 5.
President Lee said, “The Year 2026 will be the first year of restoring South Korean-Chinse relations.”
It was their second summit talks since President Lee took office.
It followed their talks on the sidelines of the APEC 2025 Korea, which took place in Gyeongju last November.
During his meeting with Chinese President Xi, Lee said, “I hope (this summit) will serve as a decisive opportunity to further solidify historical currents of fully restoring Korean-Chinese relations, and we will continue endless efforts to develop both countries’ strategic partnership into irreversible currents of the times.”
President Lee said, “Korea and China have maintained friendly relations for the past thousands of years and they joined forces to fight for the restoration of national sovereignty at a time of loss. President Lee expressed hope Korea and China will open a new phase in the development of their relations.”
President Lee stressed that both countries’ jointly contribute to ensuring peace, a basic foundation for prosperity and growth, on top of feasible alternatives for the peace on the Korean Peninsula.
President Lee’s remarks may be construed as his demand for China’s role to tackle North Korean nuclear issues.
President Xi expressed China’s willingness to cooperate in diverse areas to restore relations for both countries.
On the same day, both countries struck 14 MOUs to expand exchanges in sectors, such as the economy, climate and transportation fields.
The leaders of the two countries exchanged detailed views on areas related to public life, such as stabilizing supply chains and AI.
They had in-depth discussions on the security situation of the region, including issues of the Korean Peninsula, reports said.
The 14 MOUs between South Korea and China may be evaluated to restore economic relations, which were soured by a law banning Korean culture in China.
Both countries agreed to pursue cooperation in science technology, such as joint research, researcher exchanges and joint seminars to take a joint stand on global issues, such as climate change.
They agreed to expand exchanges and cooperation in government and private sectors in the whole of the digital sector, such as digital expansion and inclusion, software and cyber security.
Korean Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon struck the MOUs with his Chinese counterpart.
Both countries agreed to share information and experiences on startups, invigorate manpower exchanges and investment and provide support to startups using new technologies, such as AI.
They also agreed to encourage trade and investments between Korean and Chinese industry cooperation complexes, and to jointly explore ways of entering third country markets.
Both countries singed MOUs to ramp up cooperation in intellectual property protection areas and expand cooperation in the air sector, such as minute dust to climate change and the circular economy.
President Lee Emphasizes ‘Spirit of Byeokrando’
President Lee, on his state visit to China, called for businessmen of both countries to promote continuity and development in economic relations.
The president stressed the strengthening of cooperation in innovation technology sectors, combining the manufacturing industry and AI.
In his keynote speech at the Korea-China Business Forum at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Jan. 5, President Lee said, “Exchanges which took place between Goryeo and Song Dynasty some 900 years ago were the most active and stable cooperative ties in East Asia, and Byeokrando of Goryeo was a port prioritizing sea exchanges with Song Dynasty. Even at a time of diplomatic tensions and strife, trade and exchanges via Beognamdo were not interrupted.”
President Lee emphasized the “Spirit of Byeokrando,” saying that these continuous exchanges have led to important outcomes, such as stability and prosperity in East Asia, further peace and maintenance of order.
The business forum was the first event with Korean and Chinese businessmen in attendance some eight years since December 2017.
The latest event was attended by a Korean economic delegation consisting of 416 businessmen from 161 companies and some 200 Chinese business leaders.
Among Korean business leaders on hand at the event were Samsung Electronics Chmn. Lee Jae-yong, Chmn. Chey Tae-won of SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group Chmn. Chung Ui-sun, LG Group Chmn. Koo Kwang-mo, POSCO Group Chmn. Jang In-hwa and GS Group Chmn. Hur Tae-soo.
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