Seoul: President Lee Jae-myung has appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping to contribute constructively towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during their inaugural phone conversation on Tuesday, as reported by Lee's office. In response, Xi assured Lee of China's commitment to resolving the issue, emphasizing that peace and stability in the region align with the mutual interests of both South Korea and China, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Xi suggested that the two nations should elevate their strategic cooperation partnership. He also advocated for Seoul and Beijing to jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade, ensuring stable and smooth global and regional industrial supply chains.
The 30-minute discussion also saw Lee extending an invitation to Xi to visit South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, scheduled to take place in Gyeongju in November. Kang conveyed that Lee is hopeful for active promotion of exchanges and cooperation between South Korea and China in various domains, including the economy, security, and culture, all grounded in mutual benefit and equality.
This conversation marked Lee's first official dialogue with Xi and his third with a foreign leader, following engagements with U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Lee's approach to "pragmatic diplomacy" requires a careful balance between Washington-South Korea's military ally-and Beijing, its largest trading partner, amid intensifying superpower rivalry.
Relations between Seoul and Beijing have been tense since former President Yoon Suk Yeol aligned more closely with the U.S. and bolstered trilateral cooperation with Japan. During his campaign, Lee advocated for improved relations with Beijing, emphasizing the need for South Korea to maintain a cautious distance from sensitive diplomatic issues involving China and Taiwan.