Overview
- Lee Jae-myung travels to China from January 4 to 7 for a state visit framed by Seoul officials as a bid for comprehensive restoration of bilateral ties.
- A summit with Xi Jinping is scheduled in Beijing on January 5, marking Lee’s first visit to China since taking office.
- In a January 2 CCTV interview, Lee said South Korea respects the One China principle and stressed the need to coexist and cooperate with China even as U.S. ties deepen.
- Lee plans to visit the Korean Provisional Government site in Shanghai on January 7, highlighting historical links while noting that future-oriented cooperation is essential.
- He is expected to visit Japan in mid-January, and some reporting suggests Beijing may test Seoul for clearer alignment during the China trip.