President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to China, met with Korean compatriots in China on the 4th and said, "Since the launch of the administration, there have been several diplomatic achievements, but among them, the full restoration of Korea-China relations, which had retreated for a long time, is the greatest achievement and a great source of pride." Noting that advances in China's renewable energy and other eco-friendly technologies have led to improvements in the "fine dust problem originating from China," Lee called it "tremendous progress."
Lee said this while presiding over a dinner meeting with compatriots in China at the Beijing Wanda Culture Hotel that evening, saying, "The government of popular sovereignty declared Korea's return to the international community as a democratic nation immediately after its launch in Jun. last year and has accelerated efforts to normalize diplomacy." The dinner was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, Policy Chief Kim Yong-bum, Office of National Security Director Wi Sung-lac, and about 300 Koreans living in China.
The Korea-China summit comes about two months after their summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Gyeongju at the end of Nov. last year. Lee said, "It is unprecedented for the leaders of Korea and China to pay reciprocal state visits in just two months," adding, "This reflects the grave shared understanding and strong will of both governments that the two countries must normalize relations as quickly as possible and move toward a future-oriented partnership."
Citing in particular the rapid development of China's fintech and eco-friendly technologies, Lee said, "There have been many changes and reforms, such as making fintech technologies like Alipay part of daily life and drastically expanding the distribution of electric vehicles through green policies." He continued, "As I recall, every Jan., the question of what to do about fine dust blowing in from China in Feb. and Mar. was Korea's most pressing issue," adding, "Now we hardly worry about that, and it has improved so much that people barely notice it. I think it is tremendous progress."
He added, "China competes with us in the global market, but there are countless areas for future cooperation based on our respective comparative advantages, including renewable energy, bio, and the silver industry," and "Moreover, China is an indispensable partner in advancing toward peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula."
Lee evaluated this Korea-China summit as a "milestone for planning the next 30 years." Earlier, the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Gyeongju in Nov. last year and agreed on the joint goal of a "substantive restoration of the strategic cooperative partnership." Lee said, "To maturely develop bilateral relations, the experiences, wisdom, and advice of compatriots who share daily life with Chinese people are paramount," and he pledged to expand and improve "overseas polling stations."
According to the presidential office, Lee will hold a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 5th. The agenda is expected to include sensitive issues such as peace on the Korean Peninsula, the "West Sea structures," and the "ban on Korean content" (Hallyu restriction order). On the 6th, Lee will meet Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's equivalent of a parliamentary speaker, then meet Premier Li Qiang, China's economic control tower, for a luncheon. He will then travel to Shanghai to have dinner with Chen Jining, the Communist Party secretary of Shanghai, and discuss ways to revitalize exchanges between local governments in Korea and China.