South Korea’s President Lee Eyes Full Reset of China Ties by 2026 After Beijing Talks

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Monday that his government aims to usher in a “new phase” in relations with China, expressing hope that 2026 would mark the full restoration of bilateral ties. The remarks came after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during Lee’s first official visit to Beijing since taking office in June.

Calling the summit a turning point, President Lee said the discussions could help place Korea–China relations on a long-term and stable trajectory. He stressed the importance of strengthening strategic cooperation and ensuring that bilateral engagement continues to deepen in a way that reflects changing regional realities.

Regional security backdrop

The meeting took place against a tense regional backdrop. Just hours before Lee’s arrival, North Korea carried out at least two ballistic missile launches—its first such tests in nearly two months. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the launches were necessary to maintain what he described as a strong nuclear deterrent.

During the talks, President Xi said China and South Korea must make “correct strategic choices” and highlighted their shared responsibility in preserving peace and stability in the region. Analysts noted that Beijing is keen for Seoul to carefully balance its foreign policy choices amid rising geopolitical competition.

According to Seok Byoung-hoon, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Xi’s comments suggest that China expects South Korea to show greater sensitivity to Beijing’s positions on issues such as Taiwan and broader global disputes, rather than aligning exclusively with Washington.

Agreements and economic focus

The summit resulted in the signing of 15 bilateral agreements, while companies from both countries concluded nine additional cooperation deals. South Korea’s Trade Ministry said firms such as Alibaba International, Lenovo, and South Korean retailer Shinsegae were among those involved.

President Lee, who was elected in a snap vote last June, has pledged to reinforce ties with the United States while maintaining stable relations with China and easing tensions with the North.

Lee arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a four-day state visit, accompanied by more than 200 South Korean business leaders. The delegation includes senior executives from Samsung Electronics, SK Group, and Hyundai Motor Group.

He said the two countries should expand cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, consumer goods, beauty and food products, as well as cultural industries including films, music, gaming, and sports.

However, South Korean Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik noted in a radio interview that China is unlikely to lift its unofficial restrictions on Korean cultural content in the near future.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that discussions during the visit are also expected to cover supply-chain investment, the digital economy, and people-to-people exchanges.

Related Development

Separately, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham claimed that India’s ambassador had approached him to seek mediation with former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a proposed reduction of a 25% penalty tariff. No official response has been issued by Indian authorities on the claim so far.

More updates are on the way—stay tuned with Raga Zone.