Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
President invites Chinese leader to APEC meeting in Korea
President Lee Jae-myung, left, has a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. On the right is Xi in a March 10 file photo. Courtesy of presidential office, AP-Yonhap
By Anna J. Park
Two leaders have 1st phone call, pledge to forge deeper Seoul-Beijing ties
President Lee Jae-myung invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Korea later this year, according to the presidential office Tuesday.
In their first official phone conversation, the leaders highlighted the two countries’ commitment to deepening their strategic partnership, it said.
Xi is the third world leader that Lee has talked over the phone since his June inauguration, following U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
This initial engagement with China’s leader underscores Seoul's strategic imperative to maintain robust economic ties with Beijing, its largest trading partner, even as the new administration prioritizes fortifying alliances with the United States for shared security interests amid escalating geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific region.
During the 30-minute conversation, Xi congratulated Lee on his election victory, expressing China’s desire to further develop bilateral cooperation within the framework of their strategic partnership.
"Expressing gratitude for Xi's congratulations, Lee delivered his hope to expand bilateral exchanges in the economy, security and culture, grounded in the principles of mutual respect and reciprocity," Kang Yu-jung, spokesperson of the presidential office, said.
She added that both leaders agreed on the importance of advancing bilateral relations in ways that deliver tangible benefits to their citizens and foster goodwill between the two peoples.
They also discussed coordination on APEC events, with Korea hosting this year’s gathering in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, beginning in late October. China is set to host the 2026 summit.
"The two countries, Korea as this year's host and China as next year's, agreed to cooperate for the successful hosting of this year’s APEC summit," Kang said, adding that Lee extended an invitation to Xi to join this year's event.
If Xi participates in the summit, it will be the Chinese president's first visit to South Korea in 11 years.
The spokesperson noted that the two leaders reflected on their shared backgrounds in local government, where both began their political careers. They pledged to use Korea’s change of administration as an opportunity to open a new chapter in Seoul-Beijing relations.
On regional issues, Lee called on China to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and advancing denuclearization. Xi responded by affirming China’s commitment to these goals, noting that peace on the peninsula aligns with the shared interests of both nations.
According to a Xinhua News Agency report on the phone call, Xi stressed enhancing strategic mutual trust, saying the two countries “should strengthen bilateral cooperation and multilateral coordination, jointly project multilateralism and free trade, and guarantee stable and smooth supply chains in the region and the world.”
The bilateral relationship has faced considerable strain in recent years, particularly over Seoul's 2016 decision to deploy a U.S.-led THAAD missile defense system, which Beijing views as a direct threat to its strategic security. This move triggered unofficial but impactful economic retaliation from China, ranging from tourism bans to restrictions on South Korean cultural content, while differing approaches to North Korea's escalating nuclear ambitions have further complicated efforts to foster a stable and mutually beneficial partnership.
The leaders agreed to maintain open communication across various sectors and to use the new administration’s momentum to further solidify and elevate bilateral ties, the spokesperson said.