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South Korean leader pushes for closer China ties
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for a "new phase" in relations with China during a meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday, marking the first visit by a South Korean leader since 2019.
Key agenda items
Lee's four-day trip focuses on regional security and easing China's long-standing restrictions on South Korean pop culture. He is scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and parliamentary chairman Zhao Leji on Tuesday.
During Monday's talks, both leaders signed cooperation agreements spanning technology, trade, and environmental initiatives. Lee also shared selfies taken with Xi on X, using a Xiaomi phone gifted by the Chinese president last year.
Diplomatic tightrope
Analysts note Lee is navigating delicate relations between China and the U.S., South Korea's security ally. Professor Park Seung-chan of Yongin University told the BBC that China's message to Seoul is clear: "Side with China and denounce Japan."
Lee plans to visit Japan later this month, where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has faced criticism from Beijing for suggesting Tokyo might respond militarily to a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan.
North Korea and security concerns
Lee emphasized the need for Chinese cooperation to pressure North Korea's Kim Jong Un on denuclearization. However, Beijing reaffirmed its "traditional friendship" with Pyongyang in September.
Recent missile tests by North Korea-including hypersonic missiles on Monday-underscore the challenges. Seoul's military reported ballistic missile launches off North Korea's east coast on Sunday.
Cultural and economic exchanges
Lee urged China to lift its decade-long unofficial ban on South Korean entertainment, which Beijing has never formally acknowledged. The restrictions followed Seoul's 2016 deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system.
"We want to usher in a new phase in the development of South Korea-China relations."
President Lee Jae Myung
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said both sides agreed to "orderly, healthy, and beneficial cultural exchanges," without specifying commitments on K-pop or K-dramas.
Historical tensions and future steps
Xi referenced shared history, urging Lee to "stand on the right side of history" and uphold post-WWII stability in Northeast Asia. Lee will hold a memorial service in Shanghai for Korean independence activists.
The leaders also discussed maritime structures in disputed waters, with China claiming they are for fish farming. Both agreed to continue "constructive" dialogue on the issue.
