Beijing, January 4, 2026 – South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a four-day state visit, his first to China since assuming office in June 2025 and the first by a South Korean leader since 2019. The visit, which includes a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, comes as Seoul seeks to strengthen economic ties and enlist Beijing's support for peace on the Korean Peninsula, even as North Korea conducted ballistic missile tests hours earlier.
Upon arrival, President Lee addressed Korean residents in Beijing, emphasizing China's critical role in regional stability. "China is a very important cooperative partner in moving toward peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula," Lee stated, highlighting Beijing's past hosting of the six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing North Korea. He vowed to "fill in gaps" in bilateral relations and elevate them to a new level.
The timing of the visit underscores Seoul's "pragmatic" diplomacy under the Lee administration, balancing robust ties with the United States—South Korea's key security ally—while managing relations with China, its largest trading partner. Bilateral trade exceeded $267 billion in 2024, with China accounting for a significant portion of South Korea's exports, particularly in semiconductors and critical minerals.
Lee's itinerary includes high-level meetings with Xi Jinping—their second in just two months, following talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, in November 2025—as well as Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress. The president is accompanied by a large delegation of over 200 business leaders, including executives from Samsung Electronics, SK Group, and Hyundai Motor Group.
On Monday, Lee will attend a Korea-China economic forum in Beijing focused on expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence, green energy, supply chains, tourism, and the digital economy. The two sides are expected to sign more than 10 memorandums of understanding across various sectors. Lee will then travel to Shanghai on Tuesday to participate in a startup event with Korean and Chinese entrepreneurs before returning home on Wednesday.
Ahead of the trip, in an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Lee reaffirmed South Korea's respect for the "one-China principle" and stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia, including the Taiwan Strait.
The visit coincides with heightened regional tensions. On Sunday morning, North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles from near Pyongyang toward its eastern waters—the first such test since November 2025 and the first of 2026. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the projectiles flew approximately 900-950 kilometers, while Japan's Defense Ministry confirmed at least two launches. Pyongyang's action drew condemnation from Seoul and Tokyo as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
Analysts suggest the missile launches may signal Pyongyang's displeasure with deepening South Korea-China ties or serve as a reminder of North Korea's military capabilities ahead of the Lee-Xi summit. Lee is expected to urge Xi to play a "constructive role" in persuading North Korea to return to denuclearization talks and easing inter-Korean tensions.
This state visit marks a reciprocal exchange after Xi's trip to South Korea in November 2025, the first by a Chinese leader in over a decade. It reflects mutual interest in stabilizing relations amid broader geopolitical shifts, including strained China-Japan ties over Taiwan and global economic uncertainties.
Separately, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin also arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a five-day official visit—the first by an Irish leader in 14 years. Martin is scheduled to meet Xi and Li Qiang, focusing on trade, education, and EU-China relations.
As Lee and Xi prepare for their talks, the summit offers an opportunity to address shared challenges, from North Korean provocations to economic interdependence, in a region marked by competing alliances and security concerns.
