China and South Korea Presidents Meet in Gyeongju to Bolster Strategic Partnership

Leaders Convene for Landmark Talks in Gyeongju

Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung convened for their first in-person summit on Saturday, November 1, 2025, in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The 100-minute meeting, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering, aimed to enhance strategic communication and cooperation, fostering the steady development of their bilateral partnership. This marked President Xi's first visit to South Korea in over a decade and the inaugural meeting between the two leaders since President Lee Jae-myung assumed office on June 4, 2025.

Deepening Strategic Communication and Regional Stability

During the talks, both leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening strategic communication and coordination on regional and global issues. President Xi Jinping highlighted that China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are 'important close neighbors that cannot be moved away, and cooperation partners that cannot be separated,' stressing that promoting sound and steady development of relations serves the fundamental interests of both peoples. President Lee Jae-myung introduced South Korea's vision for denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula, urging China to play a constructive role in resuming dialogue with North Korea. President Xi, in turn, expressed China's intention to continue efforts to resolve issues on the Korean Peninsula and maintain peace and stability. Both sides concurred that dialogue between the United States and North Korea is of paramount importance.

Expanding Economic Ties and Future Cooperation

A significant portion of the discussions focused on bolstering economic cooperation. President Xi proposed accelerating the second phase of the China-ROK Free Trade Agreement and exploring cooperation potential in emerging sectors. These include:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Biomedicine
• Green Industries
• The Silver Economy

President Lee Jae-myung underscored the 'vital and indispensable' nature of economic cooperation between the two nations. Following their talks, the two heads of state witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents across various fields, including economy and trade, finance, agriculture, law enforcement, and science and technology.

Symbolic Exchanges and Future Outlook

The summit also featured a symbolic exchange of gifts, reflecting the diplomatic rapport between the leaders. President Xi presented President Lee with a flagship curved-screen smartphone from Xiaomi and a traditional set of the Four Treasures of the Study. In return, President Lee gifted President Xi a top-grade Go board crafted from the prized wood of Torreya nucifera, native to Jeju Island, along with a traditional Korean mother-of-pearl inlay lacquered tray. The leaders agreed to reboot a regular high-level dialogue, signaling a commitment to sustained engagement and a desire to translate their renewed understanding into tangible economic cooperation and regional peace.