South Korea’s Lee, China’s Xi agree on closer ties, peace on peninsula

South Korea’s newly elected President Lee Jae-myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to strengthen strategic ties and enhance cooperation on regional peace, including joint efforts around this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

During their first telephone conversation on Tuesday, the two leaders also exchanged views on a range of issues, including security, economic cooperation and cultural exchange, according to Kang Yu-jung, Seoul’s presidential spokeswoman.

The 30-minute conversation marks the beginning of formal bilateral engagement under President Lee, who took office last week.

President Xi opened the call by congratulating Lee on his election victory and expressed willingness to work with Seoul to develop the two countries’ strategic cooperative partnership.

Lee, in turn, expressed his desire to build a “mutually beneficial and equal” relationship, calling for expanded cooperation across trade, culture, security and people-to-people ties, according to Kang.

"The two leaders reached a consensus that advancing Korea-China relations in a way that tangibly benefits the lives of both nations' citizens is of utmost importance," she said.

China is South Korea's biggest trading partner and diplomatic relations between the two have been gradually improving since a 2017 spat over Seoul's installation of a US missile defense system, THAAD, which Beijing opposed.

LEE INVITES XI TO APEC SUMMIT IN GYEONGJU

A key focus of the call was the upcoming APEC summit, which Korea will host in the historic city of Gyeongju in November.

President Lee extended a formal invitation to Xi, expressing hope that the event would provide an opportunity for the two leaders to deepen their dialogue.

If Xi accepts the invitation, the visit would mark his first to South Korea in over a decade, a move likely to draw significant geopolitical attention.

The two leaders also noted the continuity of regional leadership, as China is scheduled to assume the APEC chair in 2026.

“They agreed on the need for close coordination between the current and next chair countries to ensure the success of this year’s summit,” said Lee’s spokeswoman.

On security issues, Lee urged China to play a “constructive role” in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

The Chinese leader responded by reiterating Beijing’s position that peace and stability on the peninsula are a “shared interest” of both countries, and pledged to contribute to diplomatic efforts.

While the call focused largely on affirming strategic goodwill, a senior Korean official suggested that the leaders showed mutual interest in a potential face-to-face meeting, possibly on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju.

"The two leaders could meet at this year’s APEC summit or through another suitable occasion," said the official, noting that Xi's attendance would mark a “significant turning point” in bilateral relations.

DIPLOMATIC BRIDGE BETWEEN BEIJING, WASHINGTON

Despite persistent rivalry between Beijing and Washington, South Korea’s new administration appears intent on positioning itself as a diplomatic bridge, seeking stable relations with China while maintaining its alliance with the US.

Kang noted the leaders' chemistry, highlighting their shared career paths, which spanned from regional politics to national leadership.

“The conversation was conducted in a friendly and cordial atmosphere,” she said. “They agreed to maintain close communication across all fields to build a new chapter in Korea-China relations.”

The call comes at a time of renewed geopolitical flux in East Asia, with Seoul seeking to sharpen its foreign policy amid growing US-China tensions and heightened regional security risks surrounding North Korea.

South Korea’s ties with China were strained under former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who veered toward the US and Japan.

President Lee has signaled a shift, pledging to improve relations with Beijing, as US President Donald Trump's tariffs hit both Asian countries.

Lee’s chat with Xi comes a day after he had a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, during which they pledged to reinforce bilateral as well as trilateral ties involving the US.

Last Friday, Lee also had an inaugural phone call with Trump that lasted about 20 minutes.

Write to Jae-Young Han and Hyun-Jong Lee at jyhan@hankyung.com

In-Soo Nam edited this article.