As the Republic of Korea (ROK) prepares for President Lee Jae Myung's pivotal state visit to the Chinese mainland from January 4 to 7, 2026, the leader emphasized the importance of pragmatic diplomacy and shared prosperity in an exclusive interview with China Media Group. This first overseas trip of the year signals Seoul's commitment to strengthening what Lee calls a "strategic cooperative partnership for the new era."
Addressing economic priorities, President Lee highlighted opportunities in China's high-quality development initiatives: "Our semiconductor and green energy sectors complement China's innovation-driven growth. This year, we aim to expand collaboration in AI and clean technology." The remarks come as bilateral trade reached $385 billion in 2025, with both nations recently concluding negotiations on upgraded supply chain protocols.
On regional security challenges, Lee acknowledged tensions with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) while advocating dialogue: "Stability on the Korean Peninsula remains our collective responsibility. We must balance national interests with regional peace imperatives." The president refrained from detailing specific proposals but confirmed security discussions would feature prominently during his Beijing meetings.
The interview also touched on cultural connectivity, with Lee welcoming the 2026 Korea-China Year of Cultural Exchange initiative. "When our youth collaborate on virtual reality heritage projects or climate tech startups, they're writing the next chapter of our shared story," he remarked.
