South's President Lee lands in China

Seoul aims to dodge Taiwan tensions

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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and his wife Kim Hye-kyung arrive at Seoul Air base as they leave for Beijing, in Seongnam, South Korea, yesterday. REUTERS

(REUTERS)

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived in China yesterday, seeking to boost economic ties with Seoul's largest trading partner while keeping a lid on potentially explosive issues such as Taiwan.

Mr Lee is the first South Korean leader to visit Beijing in six years. His four-day trip comes less than a week after China conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan, the self-ruled island it claims as part of its territory.

The exercises involving missiles, fighter jets, naval vessels and coastguard ships drew widespread international condemnation that Seoul notably declined to join.

Mr Lee, accompanied by a delegation of business and technology leaders, aims to expand economic cooperation during talks with Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese officials.

He also hopes to tap China's influence over North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-un to support his efforts to improve ties with Pyongyang.