President Lee Jae-myung said on the 7th that during the visit, serious and responsible talks were held on supply chain cooperation with China, peace on the Korean Peninsula, and regional security issues.
At 1 p.m. (Korea time) that day, Lee held a press briefing with the traveling press corps at the Shanghai Press Center in China and made the remarks.
Lee said, "The government will manage South Korea–China relations on a principle of mutual respect and putting each side's national interest at the center so that they do not tilt to one side or become swayed by sentiment," adding, "At the same time, we will develop balanced ties with key partners in the United States, Japan, Europe and ASEAN, and broaden our diplomatic horizon."
He went on, "Our government is pursuing foreign policy centered on practical diplomacy that helps only people's lives and the nation's future, not ideology or camps," adding, "A horizontal and mutually beneficial relationship with China is truly needed."
Lee also emphasized, "Every time President Xi Jinping sees me, he says, 'An unmovable neighbor, an inseparable relationship,'" adding, "This visit to China achieved more progress than expected. We built a lot of rapport and also found ways to amicably resolve several potentially confrontational issues."