S. Korean President sees full restoration of China ties in 2026

Lee Jae Myung says he wants 'new phase' in relations as he makes state visit to Beijing

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Jan 5 that he wants to open a “new phase” for relations with China, after meeting President Xi Jinping during Mr Lee’s first trip to Beijing since taking office last June.

“This summit will be an important opportunity to make 2026 the first year of full-scale restoration of Korea-China relations,” Mr Lee said.

“I believe that efforts to develop the strategic cooperation and partnership between the two countries into an irreversible trend of the times will continue.”

It was Mr Lee’s second meeting with Mr Xi in just two months, a sign of Beijing’s keen interest in boosting economic collaboration and tourism with Seoul as China’s relations with Northeast Asia’s other big economy, Japan, reached the lowest point in years in a dispute over policy towards Taiwan.

“More than 80 years ago, China and South Korea made tremendous national sacrifices and won the victory against Japanese militarism,” Mr Xi told Mr Lee, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency.