South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung has called for a 'new phase' in ties with China as he met its leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday.
Regional security and lifting Beijing's unofficial ban on Korean pop culture are high on Lee's agenda as he continues his four-day trip in China. He is set to meet China's Premier Li Qiang and the chairman of parliament, Zhao Leji, on Tuesday.
This marks the first visit by a South Korean leader since 2019. Bilateral ties had soured under Lee's predecessor, impeached ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was very critical of China.
Xi, meanwhile, appears keen to shore up ties with South Korea amid a diplomatic row between China and Japan.
South Korea is a US security ally, like Japan, but it also relies on China for trade. Experts say Lee is expected to maintain a diplomatic balance between Beijing and Tokyo.
The visit marks the second meeting between the two leaders since an economic summit in November.
On Monday, Lee stated that the visit is 'a crucial opportunity' for the 'full-scale restoration of South Korea-China relations.' 'We want to usher in a new phase in the development of South Korea-China relations,' he stated.
Various cooperation agreements on technology, trade, and the environment have been signed by government officials and companies from both countries.
Lee also took selfies with Xi using a Xiaomi phone, which the Chinese president had gifted him last year. 'The image quality is certainly good, right?' Lee posted on X, along with the photos.
Xi noted that the 'international situation is becoming more turbulent and complex.' During the meeting, he urged Lee to 'firmly stand on the right side of history' and make 'correct strategic choices,' according to China's official Xinhua news agency.
Xi further emphasized the shared history between China and South Korea in resisting Japanese militarism and called for both nations to work together to uphold peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
The dynamics of this meeting reflect Xi's interest in finding a regional ally amid growing tensions with Japan.
Lee's upcoming memorial service in Shanghai for activists who fought for Korea's independence from Japan underscores the complex history both nations share.
Despite ongoing challenges, Lee seeks to balance relationships, indicating plans for a visit to Japan later this month. This comes at a time when Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has drawn Beijing's ire for remarks about Taiwan.
In discussions, Lee aims to address cultural trade, particularly the unofficial restrictions that have affected South Korean entertainment in China since 2016. The two leaders agreed to explore ways to enhance cultural exchanges.
Engaging North Korea is also pivotal for Lee; he seeks China's cooperation to influence Kim Jong Un towards denuclearization.
As security developments continue on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea recently test-firing missiles, Lee stressed the importance of viable peace alternatives in the discussions with Xi.
The leaders agreed to maintain 'constructive' dialogue regarding sensitive issues, signifying a cautious yet hopeful step forward in South Korea-China ties.
