South Korean President Lee to meet Chinese leader Xi in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to a state visit in Beijing. The visit is scheduled for Monday, during which Lee will meet with Xi and travel to Shanghai to visit the historic site of South Korea’s provisional government during Japan’s 35-year colonial rule.

According to national security adviser Wi Sung-lac, the leaders are expected to discuss “practical cooperation” on issues such as supply-chain investment, tourism, and responses to transnational crime. Lee is also expected to persuade China to take a constructive role in resolving issues related to the Korean Peninsula.

This will be the second meeting between Xi and Lee in two months, which analysts have noted reflects Beijing’s interest in strengthening ties with South Korea. Relations between China and Japan remain strained after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could provoke a military response from Tokyo.

South Korean officials have reaffirmed their position on Taiwan, stating that the country respects the one-China policy and acts accordingly. Lee’s administration has emphasized its goal of restoring ties with China, which remains South Korea’s largest trading partner.

Lee’s approach to diplomacy is focused on maintaining strong ties with Japan and the United States, while also seeking to strengthen relations with China. The two leaders may discuss efforts to modernize the US-South Korea alliance, which some see as a counterbalance to China’s dominance in the Asia Pacific region.

US officials have signaled plans to make US troops stationed in South Korea more flexible in responding to regional challenges, including Taiwan and China’s growing military reach. Lee is also expected to seek Beijing’s assistance in encouraging dialogue with North Korea, following a previous outreach effort that was met with dismissal from Pyongyang.

Source: Al Jazeera