Chinese President Xi Jinping will host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on a state visit beginning Sunday, a move widely seen as an effort by Beijing to strengthen relations with Seoul at a time of heightened friction with Japan over Taiwan.
The visit will be the second meeting between Xi and Lee in just two months, an unusually short interval that analysts say underscores China’s eagerness to reinforce political ties, expand economic cooperation and revive tourism with South Korea. The timing is especially notable as relations between China and Japan have sunk to their lowest point in years following comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November suggesting Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan.
Analysts say Xi’s invitation is a calculated step to deepen bilateral engagement with Seoul before Lee makes a visit to Japan. “China wants to emphasize South Korea’s importance slightly more than before,” said Kang Jun-young, a professor of political economics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, adding that Beijing appears to have decided it was strategically preferable for Lee to visit China ahead of another summit between Seoul and Tokyo.
Lee’s top security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, said on Friday that the upcoming summit could open a “new chapter” in relations between the two countries. He said officials were preparing more than 10 agreements covering areas such as the economy, business and climate, though no joint statement was being planned.
The Lee administration has pledged to “restore” ties with Beijing, acknowledging China’s position as South Korea’s largest trading partner. This marks a shift from the more strained relationship under former president Yoon Suk Yeol, whose closer alignment with Washington and Tokyo, along with criticism of China’s stance on Taiwan, had cooled relations with Beijing. Lee has said South Korea would not take sides in the diplomatic dispute between China and Japan, as Seoul seeks to balance its alliances while avoiding entanglements that could threaten its export-driven economy.
Despite the warmer tone, significant challenges remain. China’s rivalry with the United States, South Korea’s key ally, and the ongoing threat posed by nuclear-armed North Korea complicate ties. Beijing remains Pyongyang’s principal ally and economic lifeline, and experts say Xi and Lee are likely to discuss sensitive issues such as efforts to modernise the South Korea-U.S. alliance.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea to deter North Korea, but U.S. officials have discussed making those forces more flexible to respond to wider regional threats, including Taiwan and China’s expanding military reach. “Korea is not simply responding to threats on the peninsula,” General Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, said at a forum in late December, describing the country as central to the balance of power in Northeast Asia.
Wi said Seoul would also seek to reassure Beijing that its plans to develop nuclear-powered submarines were aimed solely at deterring North Korea. Lee is also expected to press Xi to encourage dialogue with Pyongyang, at a time when North Korea has rejected outreach from the new South Korean administration.
Economic and technological cooperation will feature prominently on the agenda. Lee’s office has said discussions will include critical minerals, supply chains and green industries. South Korea sources nearly half of its rare earth minerals from China and sends about a third of its semiconductor exports to the Chinese market, its largest by far.
Last month, South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao agreed to work toward stabilising rare earth supplies. Experts say the visit could also pave the way for partnerships in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. Huawei Technologies plans to roll out its Ascend 950 AI chips in South Korea this year, aiming to offer local firms an alternative to Nvidia, according to Huawei’s South Korea chief executive Balian Wang, though the company has declined to comment further on the plan.
