In a significant diplomatic development, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will commence a four-day state visit to China beginning Sunday, marking his first official trip to the country since assuming office in June 2025. This visit represents the first by a South Korean head of state since 2019, signaling a potential thaw in bilateral relations between the two Northeast Asian neighbors.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed the visit through spokesman Lin Jian, who emphasized the strategic importance of the two nations as key regional partners. “Under the strategic guidance of both heads of state, this visit is anticipated to significantly advance the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership,” Lin stated during a regular press briefing.
Accompanying President Lee will be a substantial delegation of over 200 South Korean business leaders, including executives from corporate giants Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, and LG Group. This substantial commercial contingent underscores the economic dimension of the visit, with both nations preparing to discuss cooperation in multiple sectors including supply chain security, investment frameworks, digital economy initiatives, transnational crime prevention, and environmental protection measures.
The timing of the visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the China-ROK free trade agreement, with both parties having agreed to accelerate second-phase negotiations to deepen economic integration. Bilateral trade reached $328.08 billion in 2024, reflecting a 5.6% year-on-year increase despite global economic headwinds.
Recent reciprocal visa facilitation measures have further strengthened people-to-people exchanges. China implemented visa-free entry for South Korean tourists and business visitors in November 2024, with South Korea reciprocating for Chinese group tourists in September 2025, resulting in a notable surge in cross-border travel.
This visit builds upon the momentum generated by the meeting between President Lee and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, last November. According to Professor Zhan Debin of Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, while President Xi’s previous visit to South Korea helped stabilize bilateral relations, President Lee’s upcoming visit aims to “explore ways to make further progress on the basis of that stability,” particularly through enhanced economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.