South Korean President Lee: I think Chinese President Xi is a magnificent leader

In the Far East, while political tension between China and Japan continues, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, since taking office in June 2025, He is preparing to make his first official visit to China.

According to the statement from the Seoul administration, Lee will visit China on Sunday, January 4, and during his 4-day visit, Chinese Presidentwill meet with President Xi Jinping.Theywill discuss.

South Korean National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac stated that the two leaders will discuss regional peace and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.denuclearizationeffortstoaddress the issues. Stating that plans are in place to deepen strategic ties between Seoul and Beijing, he noted that the full normalization of bilateral relations would be a "groundbreaking development for Korean affairs."asignificantandimpactful development."

In the meeting between Lee and Xi, it is also expected that China's unofficial ban on South Korean cultural content will be addressed. Lee stated, "South Korea and China have different views regarding the restrictions, but we aim to resolve them through dialogue."has relations, but the Korean government will gradually expand consensus on encouraging cultural exchange and will seek solutions" he said. Lee, ahead of his official visit, gave an interview to the China-based CCTV television channel

and spoke about the Chinese leader.He stated,"I think he is a truly magnificent and visionary leader.He has guided China's economic growth and technological development in a very short time." offered praise. Regarding Chinese PresidentXi, Lee said, "I thinkhe is a truly magnificent and visionary leader. I think so. He has guided China's economic growth and technological development in a veryshort time. Heprovided direction. Despite the complexgeopolitical developments around him, he manages hiscountry in a stablemanner," he stated.

Lee stated that there are many areas wherecooperation can be establishedbetween the two countries,including the high-techartificial intelligence industry,adding, "For ourrelations, the most important" is economic cooperation that will be in the interest of both sides," he stated.

South Korea-China relations

Lee and Xi Jinping last met in November 2025 during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

Lee's hIt is known that his government acknowledges China as the country's largest trading partnerand aims to re-establish relations with the Beijingadministration. Expertsnote that this situation is a departure from the policies of the formeradministration, which established closerelations with Washington and Tokyo and criticized China's stance on the Taiwanissue.South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's China-South Korea relations, describing it as a change that comes after the tension caused.

Lee, in a statementhe made last monthin the statement between China and Japanthat he would not take sides in the developing diplomatic disputesstated.