In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung concluded a transformative four-day state visit to China on Wednesday, marking the first such presidential visit since 2019 and signaling a major shift toward stabilized Sino-ROK relations. The visit, which included high-level meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and historical commemorations in Shanghai, produced substantial economic agreements and demonstrated both nations’ commitment to pragmatic diplomacy.
The journey yielded unprecedented outcomes, with leaders witnessing the signing of 15 bilateral cooperation documents and numerous additional corporate agreements across technology, manufacturing, and automotive sectors. President Lee’s delegation included approximately 200 business executives from South Korea’s corporate giants including Samsung, SK Group, Hyundai, and LG, underscoring the economic dimension of the renewed partnership.
A particularly noteworthy development emerged from the mobility sector, where South Korea’s SWM reached a preliminary agreement with Chinese technology conglomerate Lenovo to collaboratively develop computing platforms for Level 4 autonomous vehicle commercialization. This high-tech collaboration represents a milestone in bilateral technological cooperation.
The visit’s impact extended beyond diplomacy to financial markets, with the Korea Composite Stock Price Index reaching historic highs during the presidential mission. The benchmark index surged past 4,400 points during the leadership meetings, climbing to 4,500 on Tuesday and briefly exceeding 4,600 the following day, reflecting investor optimism about improved relations.
President Lee characterized the outcomes as exceeding expectations, noting in Shanghai that both nations had established broad mutual understanding and developed solutions to potentially contentious issues. ‘South Korea-China relations are truly essential for both sides,’ Lee stated. ‘There is no need to unnecessarily provoke, reject or confront each other.’
The diplomatic thaw was further symbolized through personal diplomacy when President Lee shared a viral selfie with President Xi and their spouses, captured with a Xiaomi smartphone gifted during their November meeting. The image, which Lee described as ‘the shot of a lifetime,’ garnered millions of engagements on social media platforms, with one observer noting that such personal moments advance international relations more effectively than formal communications.
Experts interpreted the visit as demonstrating President Lee’s commitment to sustainable bilateral relations rather than short-term diplomatic gains. Woo Su-keun, head of the Institute of East Asian Studies of Korea, emphasized that the restoration of stable leader-to-leader communication represents the most significant achievement, creating foundations for regular dialogue and crisis management.
Kyung Hee University professor Choo Jae-woo noted that Lee’s pragmatic approach toward comprehensive regional relationships could significantly contribute to Northeast Asian stability, mitigate tariff challenges, and enhance supply chain resilience for both economies.