Balancing Acts: South Korea's Lee Jae Myung Bridges Ties with China

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to visit China to discuss strategic partnerships and geopolitical issues with President Xi Jinping. The visit aims to balance South Korea's relationships with both China and the U.S., focusing on trade, technology cooperation, and regional stability.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is poised to make his first state visit to China in January, meeting with President Xi Jinping to discuss strengthening bilateral ties. The visit, set from January 4 to 7, focuses on advancing regional stability, supply chain collaboration, and geopolitical issues. Lee seeks to solidify a strategic partnership following his inauguration this past June.

China, South Korea's largest trading partner, holds significant influence over regional geopolitical dynamics, especially regarding North Korea. President Lee, in prior discussions with Xi, emphasized China's role in stabilizing supply chains and expressed concerns over China's rare earths control, vital to major Korean industries.

While in China, Lee will also engage in start-up cooperation initiatives in Shanghai. Despite U.S. military ties, South Korea remains dependent on Chinese trade. Analysts see Lee's diplomatic balancing act as crucial, anticipating potential collaboration in technology sectors, such as artificial intelligence. Cultural dialogue, including the ban on K-pop, is expected to continue.

(With inputs from agencies.)