BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing on Monday with President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung, who is on a state visit to China, reaffirming the two countries’ commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation, expanding economic ties, and promoting people-to-people exchanges.
During the talks at the Great Hall of the People, Xi noted that he and President Lee have met twice and conducted reciprocal visits, underscoring the high importance both sides place on China-ROK relations. As close neighbors and partners, the two countries should enhance exchanges and maintain frequent communication, he said.
Xi emphasized that China has consistently prioritized relations with the ROK in its regional diplomacy and maintained policy continuity and stability toward the country. He expressed China’s willingness to work with the ROK to uphold friendly cooperation, follow the principle of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, advance the bilateral strategic partnership along a healthy track, improve the well-being of both peoples, and make positive contributions to regional and global peace and development.
Highlighting shared values of prioritizing peace and harmony, Xi said the two nations have transcended differences in social systems and ideologies to support each other’s development. He called on both sides to continue this tradition by strengthening mutual trust, respecting each other’s development paths, accommodating core interests and major concerns, and properly managing differences through dialogue and consultation.
Xi also introduced China’s development blueprint outlined in the recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan, adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, noting that it will create broad opportunities for cooperation with countries worldwide, including the ROK.
Pointing to deeply integrated industrial and supply chains, Xi said China-ROK economic cooperation is highly complementary and mutually beneficial. He called for closer alignment of development strategies, stronger policy coordination, and expanded cooperation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, green industries, and the silver economy. He also encouraged greater exchanges in youth, media, sports, think tanks, and local government cooperation.
Xi stressed that China and the ROK share important responsibilities in safeguarding regional peace and promoting global development. He recalled that more than 80 years ago, the two peoples made great sacrifices and achieved victory against Japanese militarism, and urged both sides to jointly safeguard the outcomes of World War II and maintain peace and stability in Northeast Asia. As beneficiaries of economic globalization, he added, the two countries should oppose protectionism, uphold multilateralism, and contribute to a more inclusive and balanced global economic order.
For his part, President Lee said the ROK and China are close neighbors with a long history of exchanges, noting their shared struggle against Japanese militarist aggression and expressing appreciation for China’s efforts to preserve historical sites related to the Korean independence movement.
Lee said that since establishing diplomatic relations, the two countries have built strong cooperative ties and achieved substantial成果. The ROK, he said, attaches great importance to relations with China and hopes to use the first head-of-state diplomatic meeting of the year to consolidate the momentum of recovery in bilateral ties, seek common ground while managing differences, deepen the strategic cooperative partnership, and open a new chapter in relations. He reaffirmed the ROK’s respect for China’s core interests and adherence to the one-China principle.
Lee also highlighted the positive role of bilateral economic and trade cooperation in both countries’ development and expressed the ROK’s interest in seizing opportunities created by China’s 15th Five-Year Plan to achieve more practical cooperation results. He said the ROK is willing to enhance people-to-people exchanges, strengthen mutual trust, and expand multilateral coordination with China, while wishing China success in hosting this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of 15 cooperation documents covering areas such as scientific and technological innovation, ecological and environmental protection, transportation, and economic and trade cooperation. Earlier in the day, Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, held a welcome ceremony for Lee and his wife, Kim Hea Kyung, at the Great Hall of the People.
The strengthening of political ties was echoed on the economic front the same day, as the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) jointly hosted a China-ROK business forum in Beijing. About 400 representatives from government and business circles of both countries attended.
At the forum, CCPIT Chairman Ren Hongbin said the organization is committed to building a high-quality platform and providing comprehensive services to support business cooperation between China and the ROK. China has been the ROK’s largest trading partner for 21 consecutive years.
KCCI and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said the strong turnout of business leaders at the very beginning of 2026 reflects the high expectations of the business community for future economic cooperation.
Business representatives from both sides agreed that while consolidating traditional areas of cooperation, China and the ROK should further tap the potential of emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, biopharmaceuticals, and green industries, and explore new opportunities beyond their domestic markets.
People-to-people exchanges were also highlighted as a key driver of bilateral relations. Since the mutual implementation of visa facilitation policies, cross-border travel—especially among young people has increased markedly. Cultural tours and beauty experiences in Seoul have gained popularity among young Chinese travelers, while short weekend trips to Shanghai have become a growing trend among young visitors from the ROK.
Both sides expressed confidence that with strengthened political trust, deepened economic cooperation, and closer people-to-people exchanges, China-ROK relations will continue to develop steadily and deliver greater benefits to the two countries and their peoples.
