The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Dec. 30 that South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will pay a state visit to China over January 4-7. Relations had been very strained during the former conservative presidency of Yoon Suk Yeol, while Lee Jae-myung is closer to China.
Chosun Daily in South Korea notes that this will be the first state visit to China by a South Korean President in nine years. President Lee will hold a summit and state banquet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing from Jan. 4-6, then visit Shanghai over Jan. 6-7. Chosun quotes a government spokesman: “Judging that it was necessary to urgently coordinate with China on a peace plan for the Korean Peninsula to facilitate U.S.-North Korea dialogue during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China in April next year, our side strongly requested an early visit to China.” They add that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has rejected denuclearization negotiations and inter-Korean dialogue.
President Lee is also expected to visit Japan in mid-January.
