President Lee arrives in Beijing for state visit

Jan 04, 2026, 07:59 pm

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President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport on Air Force One on Jan. 4, beginning a state visit to China. / Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Beijing on the afternoon of Jan. 4, kicking off a four-day state visit to China.

The visit marks President Lee’s first summit diplomacy of the new year. It is also the first state visit to China by a South Korean president since former President Moon Jae-in’s trip in 2017, about nine years ago.

President Lee’s meeting with Xi Jinping will take place on Jan. 5. The talks will be their second bilateral meeting following discussions held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November last year. It is also the first summit this year for both leaders.

Upon arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport, President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung were welcomed by South Korean Ambassador to China Roh Jae-heon, Seo Man-kyo, vice chair of the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council’s China chapter, Koh Tak-hee, president of the Federation of Korean Associations in China, and Yang Jie, chairman of the Korea-China Chamber of Commerce. Representing the Chinese government, Minister-level Science and Technology Minister Yin Hejun and Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing and his spouse attended the reception, with an honor guard lined up in accordance with state-visit protocol.

Later in the evening, President Lee will meet with members of the Korean community in China as his first official engagement of the visit.

During the summit on Jan. 5, the two leaders are expected to discuss issues including peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, as well as ways to boost economic cooperation, particularly in consumer goods and services.

Other sensitive issues likely to be addressed include restrictions on Korean cultural content in China, disputes over maritime structures in the West Sea, and equipment shipments to semiconductor plants operated by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in China. Observers also expect President Lee to seek Beijing’s understanding regarding South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program, which has drawn concern from the Chinese side.

In addition to the summit, President Lee will attend a state banquet and a signing ceremony for bilateral memorandums of understanding. He is also scheduled to participate in a Korea-China business forum alongside major Korean business leaders, including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo.

On Jan. 6, President Lee will meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, before traveling to Shanghai.

On the final day of the visit, Jan. 7, President Lee will visit the former site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai. He will also attend a dinner hosted by Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining and participate in a Korea-China venture startup summit before returning home.

#Lee Jae-myung #China state visit #Beijing #South Korea-China summit #Xi Jinping