South Korean President’s Visit to China: A ‘Historic Milestone’ in Bilateral Relations

Beijing, January 5 / South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that the full restoration of bilateral relations, which had been in retreat for a long time, is the greatest achievement and a significant accomplishment during his official visit to China.

Speaking at a meeting with Korean delegates in China on Sunday, President Lee said, “While there have been various diplomatic achievements, the full restoration of South Korea-China relations is the greatest achievement.” He also mentioned that there remain boundless opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

According to the Korean Herald, Lee described this visit as a ‘significant milestone’ for the next 30 years of bilateral relations, marking the start of this year’s “practical diplomacy.”

As reported by The Korean Herald and The Chosun Daily, President Lee stated, “It has been over 30 years since South Korea and China established diplomatic relations.” He added, “As neighboring countries, we have sometimes faced difficult periods, but through exchange and cooperation, we have achieved remarkable development.”

Acknowledging the twists and turns in bilateral ties since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1992, Lee pledged to “sustain the current positive momentum to ensure that such difficulties are never repeated.” He further said the South Korean government would “do its utmost to strengthen communication and cooperation based on mutual respect and consideration.”

Emphasizing the importance of economic cooperation, he stated that based on respective comparative advantages, there remain boundless opportunities for cooperation in fields such as renewable energy, biotechnology, the silver economy, and many others.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, during a press briefing on December 30, expressed China’s expectations for President Lee’s visit, hoping that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, this visit would play a positive role in advancing the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership.