China and South Korea to Rebuild Relations After Xi-Lee Summit Talks

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, marking the second meeting between the two leaders in two months. The gathering aimed to strengthen ties between the nations amidst rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.

Lee had previously hosted Xi for talks at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Gyeongju. On Sunday, Lee traveled to Beijing for a four-day visit, the first by a South Korean president since 2019. The trip comes as South Korea seeks to maintain good relations with China, its largest economic partner.

China and South Korea have differing views on various issues, including Taiwan, trade tensions, and maritime claims. Analysts note that Lee’s visit is significant, given his planned trip to Japan later this month. The timing of the visit suggests that economic cooperation is a priority for both nations.

The summit began with warm remarks from both leaders, who emphasized the importance of their relationship. Xi stated that South Korea and China “highly prioritize” their relationship, while Lee echoed Xi’s sentiments on the need for frequent interaction between the two nations.

Experts describe the summit as a test of Lee’s ability to navigate his country’s complex relationship with China. While cordial talk dominated the meeting, several contentious issues were not addressed in detail. Analysts note that China insists on Taiwan being part of its territory and has not ruled out taking it by force.

During the 90-minute summit, Lee stressed the need for cooperation with China to bring North Korea back to the dialogue table. Xi has promised economic support to the North, which remains technically at war with South Korea. The meeting comes as tensions between China and South Korea’s allies, the United States and Japan, have deteriorated in recent years.

North Korea has dismissed Lee’s outreach, calling him a “hypocrite” and “confrontational maniac.” Despite this, both sides agree that economic cooperation is key to improving relations. The summit marks an important step in South Korea’s efforts to balance its relationships with China, the United States, and Japan amidst rising tensions in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera