South Korea, China Restore Ties, Boost Cooperation After Xi-Lee Summit

During Chinese President Xi Jinping's first visit to South Korea in 11 years, he and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held a summit in Gyeongju where they sought to restore and strengthen bilateral relations. Both leaders emphasized their countries as close neighbors and inseparable partners, transcending ideological differences to build trust and mutual prosperity. They renewed a currency swap deal to stabilize financial markets, discussed expanding cultural exchanges despite legal constraints, and agreed to accelerate negotiations on a free trade agreement for services and investments. President Lee called on China to play a constructive role in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, highlighting recent active high-level exchanges between China and North Korea as positive for resuming dialogue with Pyongyang. Xi committed to deepening communication and maintaining policy consistency and stability to support long-term development of their strategic partnership and regional peace. Both leaders underscored the importance of managing differences through friendly consultations and consolidating mutual trust.