Leaders agree to improve mutual sentiment by expanding people-to-people exchanges
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has formally invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping to attend this year’s APEC summit in South Korea, as both leaders pledged to chart a new course in bilateral relations, the presidential office in Seoul said Tuesday.
Lee and Xi agreed on the need for close cooperation during their 30-minute first phone call, which began at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, six days after Lee’s inauguration on June 4, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a televised press briefing.
"The two leaders agreed to maintain close communication across various fields to forge new Korea–China relations, taking the inauguration of the new Korean administration as an opportunity," Kang said.
The introductory phone call came at a critical juncture, as this year holds particular significance for Seoul-Beijing ties with expectations rising for Xi’s first visit to South Korea since July 2014, on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
South Korea will host the APEC summit in early November in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. China is to host the summit next year.
"The two leaders also agreed on the need for close cooperation between Korea and China — this year’s and next year’s respective APEC hosts — to ensure the successful hosting of the APEC summit in Gyeongju," Kang said.
“President Lee invited President Xi to the APEC summit in Gyeongju this November, expressing hope for closer consultations with the Chinese leader on that occasion to advance bilateral relations,” Kang added.
Following the phone call, Lee highlighted in a separate statement on his official X account, “China is an important partner for us in all aspects, including the economy and security.”
“I hope that, by closely cooperating through APEC, we can work together to build a Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership that can make a tangible contribution to the lives of our peoples,” Lee added.
During the briefing, Kang underscored that the two leaders “pledged to work together to deliver tangible results in practical areas such as economic cooperation — outcomes that the people of both countries can genuinely experience.”
Lee and Xi also “agreed to enhance friendly sentiment between their citizens by strengthening mutual communication and expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges,” Kang added.
Lee expressed his hopes for Seoul and Beijing "pursuing active exchanges and cooperation across a wide range of fields — including the economy, security, culture and people-to-people exchanges — based on the spirit of mutual benefit and equality," according to Kang.
Kang further explained that the phone call was “conducted in a cordial and amicable atmosphere,” based on the commonality that both Lee and Xi began their political careers at the local level.
The phone call also touched upon China's role in resolving the nuclear issue with North Korea. Kang explained, "Lee asked China to play a constructive role in achieving denuclearization and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."
"In response, President Xi stated that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are in the common interest of both (South) Korea and China, and that China will make efforts to help resolve the issue and promote peace and stability on the peninsula," Kang told the briefing.
According to a statement from the Chinese government, Xi called for “promoting the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level” during the phone call.
Xi also stressed the need to “deepen people-to-people exchanges to increase mutual understanding and consolidate the foundation of public support,” as well as to “strengthen exchanges at all levels and in all fields to enhance strategic mutual trust,” Beijing added.
China has implemented a visa-free policy for short-term South Korean visitors, effective from November of last year until the end of this year, to promote people-to-people exchanges.
The sequence of Lee’s phone calls with the leaders of the US, China and Japan has drawn close attention — particularly regarding whether he would speak with Xi or Ishiba first.
Xi is the third leader with whom Lee has held a phone call since his inauguration, which took place immediately after the June 3 snap election without a transition period.
Lee previously spoke for around 20 minutes with US President Donald Trump on June 6 and for 25 minutes with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday.
With Trump having confirmed his attendance at the G7 summit and Ishiba also expected to participate as Japan’s representative, Lee will attend the summit in Alberta on June 16 and 17 as an observer, at the invitation of the Canadian hosts. This sets the stage for his first in-person interactions with both leaders.
dagyumji@heraldcorp.com
