Overview
- Arriving in Beijing for a four-day trip, Lee was greeted by Science and Technology Minister Yin Hejun, a higher-level reception that Seoul cast as a sign of renewed momentum in relations.
- Lee told roughly 300 Korean residents that the visit marks a milestone for charting the next three decades of ties and he pledged closer communication based on mutual respect.
- He pressed for expanded economic cooperation, citing opportunities in renewable energy, biotechnology, fintech and electric vehicles while calling China both a competitor and an essential partner.
- Lee urged Beijing to help bring Pyongyang back to dialogue, calling China crucial for peace on the peninsula after North Korea launched ballistic missiles hours before his arrival.
- He promised to improve overseas voting access for Koreans in China, noting only about 10 polling stations, and he will attend a business forum before meetings with Xi Jinping, Zhao Leji and Premier Li Qiang, followed by events in Shanghai.