South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is set to visit China as a state guest in early January 2026 for talks with President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has revealed. The trip precedes a planned mid-January summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in her home prefecture of Nara.
Arrangements are advancing for South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to China in early January 2026, where he will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in a television appearance on Monday. Discussions between Seoul and Beijing continue, with details to be announced soon. This would be Lee's first visit to China since taking office in June.
The leaders are expected to discuss North Korea-related issues and economic cooperation. It follows Xi's visit to South Korea this autumn during the APEC summit in Gyeongju, where the two held bilateral talks on the sidelines.
Lee is also scheduled to travel to Nara Prefecture, Japan, in mid-January—potentially around January 13-14—for a summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, as previously reported. Nara, Takaichi's hometown, may host the meeting at sites like Todaiji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cho declined to confirm the visit order due to complex factors.
This reflects ongoing shuttle diplomacy amid regional tensions. Japan-China relations are strained, including over Takaichi's recent comments on a Taiwan contingency. President Lee has affirmed South Korea's neutrality, stating that taking sides would worsen the standoff.
