Seoul, ROK - Aug 20, 2026 (The Blue House - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Photo showing President of Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung shaking hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
2. Photos showing meeting between Lee, Wang

FILE: Seoul, ROK - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Various of traffic flow, Gwanghwamun Square

FILE: Seoul, ROK - April 22, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
4. Traffic

FILE: Seoul, ROK - 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. Various of traffic, cityscape

FILE: Seoul, ROK - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Various of traffic, pedestrians
7. Various of city view

President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Blue House in Seoul on Thursday.

Lee said he was pleased to see the rapid improvement and development of current ROK-China relations, noting that bilateral trade and economic cooperation is growing strongly, and mutual visits between the two countries' citizens are expected to exceed 10 million this year. He added that the ROK public perception of China is steadily improving, and the people look forward to strengthening comprehensive cooperation with China.

Under the current international situation, Lee said, the ROK and China need each other in areas such as economy, trade, and security, emphasizing that strengthening strategic cooperation serves the fundamental interests of both countries and is important for maintaining regional peace and stability.

He called on the two countries to become mutually dependent and mutually complementary partners.

Lee said he looks forward to visiting China's Shenzhen City in November for the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, calling it an important opportunity to work with China to advance the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership to a new level.

Noting that Lee has made the right choice of bringing China-ROK relations back to a normal track after taking office as president, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the fact that bilateral relations have recovered and made positive progress this year proves that a rational, pragmatic, and positive China policy fully serves the ROK's interests and meets the trend of the times.

Wang said China is an important force in safeguarding world peace, a prominent stabilizing factor in the world, and will become the world's largest market, underlining that China is willing to share development opportunities with all countries, especially neighboring ones.

Wang expressed the hope that the ROK will firmly pursue a friendly policy toward China. He said the two sides should take the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year as an opportunity to make greater progress in the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership and contribute to the development of both countries and regional peace and prosperity.

Wang said that as global economic fragmentation intensifies and trade protectionism rises, China and the ROK should play an exemplary role, complete the second phase of negotiations on the China-ROK Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible, and promote regional economic integration and inclusive economic globalization through concrete actions.

During his visit to the country, Wang also held talks with ROK Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and had a strategic dialogue with the ROK's top presidential national security advisor Wi Sung-lac.