In their first official conversation since South Korean President Lee Jae-myung took office last week, President Lee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and promoting stability on the Korean Peninsula, according to a statement from the South Korean presidential office.
President Lee expressed his desire to foster “substantive advances” in bilateral ties and called for deeper engagement across economic, security, and cultural domains. “I hope our two countries can pursue a more active exchange and cooperation,” Lee reportedly told Xi during the phone call, which lasted over 30 minutes.
The conversation comes at a delicate time for both countries. South Korea is navigating strained ties with North Korea and adjusting its foreign policy posture between its traditional ally, the United States, and its largest trading partner, China. For China, the call offers a chance to reaffirm its regional influence as tensions escalate over Taiwan and U.S. military activity in East Asia.
Xi welcomed Lee’s outreach, reportedly saying that China is willing to work closely with South Korea to ensure regional peace, maintain economic stability, and resist “external interference” a phrase often used by Beijing to reference U.S. involvement in Asian affairs.
Historical and Strategic Context
China and South Korea share a complex but critical relationship. China is South Korea’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $300 billion in recent years. However, political tensions have often disrupted cooperation notably during the 2017 fallout over South Korea’s deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system, which China saw as a threat to its security.
In recent years, Seoul has sought to diversify its economic partnerships, while still relying heavily on Chinese exports and imports. Lee, who has campaigned on both economic revitalization and strategic autonomy, faces the challenge of balancing Seoul’s U.S. alliance with economic interdependence on China.
The leaders also discussed the Korean Peninsula’s denuclearization. While Xi reiterated support for a peaceful resolution through dialogue, North Korea has shown little willingness to return to talks, launching a series of missile tests in 2024 that raised regional alarm.
Analysts say the Lee-Xi conversation may set the tone for a recalibration in South Korea–China relations, especially as Washington presses allies like Seoul to align more closely on global tech restrictions targeting Chinese companies.
