President Lee Jae-myung presented Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a state visit to Korea for the first time in 11 years, with a go board made of solid hornbeam wood and a round mother-of-pearl lacquer tray.
The presidential office said President Lee began his summit schedule on Nov. 1 in the afternoon with President Xi, who is visiting Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
The two leaders set aside separate time to build rapport. On this occasion, President Lee gave President Xi a "solid hornbeam go board" and a "round mother-of-pearl lacquer tray." The presidential office said, "We prepared the go board in consideration of the fact that both leaders like go, and that when President Xi visited 11 years ago our side presented go stones," adding, "We imbued it with the wish that the ties between Korea and China will unfold beautifully upon the go board made of the finest solid hornbeam wood, on which the go stones presented at the time can be placed."
President Xi's love of go is well known. He first learned go in the 1970s while working as a secretary to Geng Biao, then secretary-general of the Central Military Commission and a standing committee member. Since then, Xi was so enthusiastic about go that he even received private lessons from Nie Weiping, a Chinese 9-dan professional. When he visited Korea 11 years ago, it also became famous that at a state dinner at the Blue House Yeongbingwan, he said, "I don't know most of the guests here today, but there is exactly one person I know very well," and pointed to 9-dan Lee Chang-ho.
The round mother-of-pearl lacquer tray was made using Korea's traditional nacre-inlay technique with a long history. The presidential office said it carries the hope of continuing and advancing the long-standing friendly relations between Korea and China.
At the summits with major countries held during this APEC, President Lee's gifts have consistently drawn attention. To U.S. President Donald Trump, he presented the "Grand Order of Mugunghwa" and a "Cheonmachong Tomb gold crown replica." President Trump liked the crown replica so much that he instructed aides to take special care of it.
To Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, he presented gim (dried seaweed) and cosmetics. Prime Minister Takaichi also said at a press briefing after taking office that "I like Korean gim and I use Korean cosmetics."