South Korea has expressed hopes of normalising relations with China after years of strain, with President Lee Jae Myung sending a special delegation to Beijing as he departed for Washington to meet US President Donald Trump.
The delegation, led by former parliament speaker Park Byeong-seug, met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday. According to Seoul’s foreign ministry, Park told Wang that both countries should work together to “open the door to normalising South Korea-China relations, which have been strained in recent years.”
During the meeting, Park delivered a letter from President Lee to Chinese President Xi Jinping and extended an invitation for Xi to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in October.
Wang welcomed the visit, emphasising the importance of developing stronger ties. “The development of both countries’ relations has shown that good neighbourliness, seeking common ground while reserving differences and expanding cooperation are the right choices,” he said, according to China’s foreign ministry. He also urged both sides to “improve national sentiment and manage sensitivities properly” to ensure stability in their relationship.
Seoul’s foreign ministry said the two sides agreed to strengthen economic and supply chain cooperation, while reaffirming the importance of their strategic partnership. Park added that South Korea’s new government would “pursue a mature development” of ties with China, guided by national interest, while also maintaining and strengthening the South Korea-US alliance.
Relations between Seoul and Beijing have been tense since 2017, following South Korea’s deployment of a US missile defence system, which China strongly opposed. Although ties gradually improved, relations soured again in 2023 after former President Yoon Suk Yeol made critical remarks about Beijing, prompting sharp exchanges between the two governments.
The latest meeting signals Seoul’s intent to repair ties with its largest trading partner, while balancing its close alliance with Washington.
