January 2, 2026
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to begin his four-day state visit to China on 04 January and hold a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the following day. The leaders are expected to discuss economic cooperation and peace efforts in the Korean Peninsula. The bilateral meeting takes place less than two months after President Xi visited South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, underscoring an effort by both leaders to strengthen their bilateral relations. However, they may face some challenges, including China’s competition with the United States, which is a major South Korean ally, as well as China’s close relations with North Korea.