Seoul: South Korea has committed to upholding the one-China policy as President Lee Jae Myung prepares for an official visit to Beijing. "I clearly affirm that respecting the one-China principle and maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia, including in the Taiwan Strait, are very important," Lee stated in an interview with China's state broadcaster CCTV News, according to Seoul-based news agency Yonhap.
According to Anadolu Agency, Lee is set to arrive in Beijing on Sunday, with a meeting scheduled with President Xi Jinping on Monday. Following this, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac announced that Lee will travel to Shanghai on Tuesday for a two-day visit. Wi emphasized that Seoul "respects the one-China policy and acts in accordance with that position."
During the meeting with Xi, discussions are expected to focus on economic cooperation and peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula. Lee aims to seek Beijing's assistance in achieving "a breakthrough in resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula," as reported.
This visit marks Lee as the first sitting South Korean president to travel to China since 2017. It follows Xi's recent three-day state visit to South Korea from October 30 to November 1, which included attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju. It was Xi's first visit to South Korea in 11 years, since 2014.
China and South Korea established diplomatic relations in August 1992, and the trade volume between the two nations reached $267.6 billion in 2024.