HONG KONG (AP) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in China on Sunday, with Beijing looking to deepen ties with a nearby partner amid heightened tensions between China and Japan over Taiwan.
Lee’s four-day trip is his first visit to China since taking office in June. Xinhua reported on Sunday afternoon that Lee arrived in Beijing, where he is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping for what is described as their second meeting in just two months.
The trip comes as the region’s focus remains on Taiwan, a self-ruled island it claims as sovereign territory. The tensions between China and Japan intensified after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November that Japan’s military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan.
Ahead of the visit, Lee gave an interview to China’s state broadcaster CCTV at Seoul’s Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office also known as the Blue House. CCTV reported that Lee said it was his first interview held in the presidential palace and that he hoped people would understand that his government cares about relations between Beijing and Seoul.
In the same interview, Lee assured that South Korea consistently respects the “One-China” policy when it comes to Taiwan, CCTV reported Friday. He said the healthy development of Beijing-Seoul relations depends on mutual respect, and he praised Xi Jinping as a “truly reliable neighbor.”
Lee also addressed the wider security context. He said Seoul’s cooperation with the United States, its military ally, does not mean South Korea-China relations should move toward confrontation, CCTV reported. He acknowledged that past misunderstandings between his country and China had hindered bilateral relations, and CCTV quoted him as saying: “This visit to China aims to minimize or eliminate these past misunderstandings or contradictions, to elevate and develop South Korea-China relations to a new stage.”
Alongside Taiwan-related concerns, Lee’s trip is also expected to focus on the Korean Peninsula and efforts to strengthen economic ties. South Korea and the United States have urged China to use its influence on North Korea to convince it to return to talks or abandon its nuclear program, the report said.
China has long been suspected of avoiding fully implementing U.N. sanctions on North Korea and sending clandestine aid shipments to help the North stay afloat, according to the report. On Sunday, North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea, South Korea’s military said—described as the latest weapons demonstration by the North ahead of its upcoming ruling party congress.
South Korean officials said Lee’s visit is meant to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss ways to restore peace on the Korean Peninsula. During Monday’s summit, Lee and Xi are to hold “in-depth talks on substantive ways” to address security and economic issues facing the two countries, South Korea’s national security adviser Wi Sung-lac told a briefing Friday.
Wi also said that on Tuesday, Lee is to meet Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress, and Premier Li Qiang. During the trip, South Korea will also request that China play “a constructive role” in efforts to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, Wi said, adding that in November talks Lee already asked Xi to make greater efforts to persuade North Korea to return to talks.
The national security adviser said South Korea would push for substantial achievements that could directly benefit ordinary citizens in both countries too.