President Lee Jae-myung China Visit 2026: Summit with Xi Amid Missile Tests

Handshakes are on the agenda, but missiles are in the air. President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Beijing on January 4, 2026, for a high-stakes four-day state visit. It's the first time a South Korean leader has set foot in China for a state visit since 2019. The arrival was marred by North Korea firing unidentified ballistic missiles toward the East Sea just hours before his plane touched down, setting a tense backdrop for the upcoming talks.

Strategic Priorities for the President Lee Jae-myung China Visit 2026

Lee's meeting with President Xi Jinping on Monday marks their second encounter in just two months. According to Yonhap News, the summit will focus on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and stabilizing economic ties. Lee is traveling with a massive business delegation, signaling a strong push for cooperation in artificial intelligence, green energy, and global supply chains.

Breaking Cultural Barriers and Economic MOUs

The two nations are expected to sign more than 10 memorandums of understanding. A key priority is loosening China's unofficial restrictions on Korean cultural content, a lingering issue since the 2017 THAAD deployment. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac noted that Seoul is actively seeking ways to boost cultural ties, even as Beijing denies any formal ban exists.

Navigating Maritime Disputes and Taiwan

It won't all be smooth sailing. South Korea plans to raise concerns over China's construction of steel structures in overlapping sea zones in the Yellow Sea. Furthermore, with Beijing's recent large-scale military drills near Taiwan, Lee faces pressure to clarify Seoul's stance. In a recent CCTV interview, Lee reaffirmed that South Korea's respect for the "One China" policy remains unchanged.