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.
In Shanghai, Lee seeks ‘new stage’ in Korea-China ties, citing shared history
President Lee Jae Myung holds a meeting with Chen Jining, Communist Party secretary of Shanghai, ahead of a banquet at a local venue in Shanghai, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Anna J. Park
President urges retreat from ‘distortions’ that stalled diplomacy
SHANGHAI — President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday as part of his four-day visit to China, which he said he hoped would propel bilateral relations into a “completely new stage.” Upon arrival, he met with Chen Jining, the city’s Communist Party secretary, underscoring the diplomatic significance of the trip.
“Shanghai is a city I have long wanted to visit,” Lee said, noting its historical role as a major hub of exchange between the Korean Peninsula and the Chinese mainland. He also highlighted the city’s significance as a base for Korean independence activists during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial occupation of Korea, describing it as a place of special meaning where earlier generations fought for liberation.
Lee noted that this year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Kim Koo, a leading figure in Korea’s independence movement, as well as the centennial of the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai.
“I would like to express my gratitude, together with the people of the Republic of Korea, for the excellent care and management that the city of Shanghai has provided for sites related to our independence movement, including the former Provisional Government headquarters," the Korean president said.
President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Chen Jining, Communist Party secretary of Shanghai, ahead of a banquet at a local venue in Shanghai, Tuesday. Yonhap
Turning to bilateral relations, Lee said he hoped the visit would provide an opportunity to advance Korea-China ties into a new phase and help address lingering differences between the two countries.
Quoting Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit in Beijing on Monday, Lee said, “We are neighbors who cannot move away from each other and whose relationship cannot be severed,” and added that opportunities for cooperation extend not only to the economy, but also to civil exchanges, culture and even military and security matters.
He also stressed the need to strengthen mutual public perceptions between the two countries.
“Groundless and unnecessary misunderstandings and distortions have worsened mutual perceptions and hindered the development of our relationship,” Lee said. “We should minimize such misunderstandings, foster goodwill, reduce sources of conflict and maximize areas of cooperation so that we can move forward together as good neighbors.”
President Lee Jae Myung shake hands with Shanghai Vice Mayor Chen Yujian upon his arrival at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, Tuesday. Yonhap
Chen welcomed Lee, emphasizing Shanghai’s significance in Korea-China relations and noting that trade between the city and Korea accounts for roughly 10 percent of total bilateral commerce. He also highlighted that some 3,200 Korean companies are based in Shanghai, alongside an expatriate community of about 27,000 and roughly 3,700 Korean students.