Xi Jinping on South Korea

Xi Jinping consistently emphasizes the strategic importance of the China-South Korea relationship, viewing the two nations as inseparable partners and neighbors who cannot be moved away from each other. His core position, articulated during meetings with South Korean presidents, is a willingness to work for the "steady and long-term development" of their strategic cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and seeking win-win cooperation. This stance is strongly evidenced by his joint commitment to economic dialogue, such as continuing free trade agreement negotiations and fostering cooperation in emerging fields like AI and green industries. He stresses that promoting sound relations serves the fundamental interests of both peoples and meets the trend of the times.

However, this cooperative posture is tempered by underlying geopolitical and security sensitivities, creating a mixed sentiment. While Xi highlights shared history, such as resisting Japanese militarism, and seeks common ground on regional peace—particularly concerning North Korea—disagreements remain on external relations and security domains, including Taiwan and maritime claims. The focus on economic ties, as seen when he hosted the South Korean president after a previous summit in Gyeongju in November 2025, serves to create a buffer against broader tensions, especially as Seoul navigates its close security alliance with the United States. He urges both nations to manage differences through friendly consultations while consolidating the foundation of mutual trust.