President Lee: “Korea-China Relations to Be Managed Through National-Interest-Based, Practical Diplomacy…Balanced Diplomacy to Be Expanded”
President Lee Jae-myung, who is currently on a state visit to China, said on the 7th (local time) that “the Government of the Republic of Korea intends to manage Korea-China relations based on the principles of mutual respect and a focus on national interests, without leaning to one side or being swayed by emotions.”
During opening remarks at a luncheon meeting with the traveling press held at the Shangri-La Hotel press center in Shanghai, President Lee remarked, “Korea and China are truly necessary partners for each other.”
He added, “At the same time, we will also advance our relations in a balanced manner with major partner countries such as the United States, Japan, ASEAN, and Europe, and through this we will broaden the horizons of Korean diplomacy.”
Regarding the current visit to China, President Lee emphasized that it is “an important diplomatic schedule aimed at strengthening Korea’s national interest amid a changing international order, and developing Korea-China relations in a more stable and mature direction.”
He continued, “Our government pursues foreign policy based on practical diplomacy that benefits the lives of our citizens and the future of our nation, rather than ideology or political blocs.”
On relations with China, he stated, “China is a very important neighboring country for us in all sectors—economy, security, and culture,” adding that “President Xi Jinping often says that Korea and China are ‘neighbors who cannot move away and a relationship that cannot be separated.’”
“There is no need to provoke, exclude, or confront each other unnecessarily,” President Lee said. “If we properly utilize the existing environment, we can create a better one. I do not understand why baseless issues are created to trigger conflict.”
Regarding changes in Korea-China economic cooperation, he noted, “If the past could be described as a vertical division of labor, that era is now over,” and “China has become a partner with whom a horizontal and mutually beneficial cooperative relationship is genuinely necessary.”
“It is important to compete in areas where competition is needed, and to cooperate in areas where cooperation is beneficial,” he added. “Perhaps what we need is cooperative competition—or competitive cooperation.”
As for the discussions during the visit, President Lee said, “In particular, we held sincere and responsible talks on stable management of economic cooperation, supply chain cooperation—which has recently become an issue—and peace on the Korean Peninsula and regional stability.”
On communication with the media, he stated, “Since the media serves as the eyes and ears of the public, our government will strive to explain transparently the process and outcomes of our diplomacy as much as possible,” adding that they will “do their utmost to communicate in ways the public can understand.”
Finally, regarding the outcomes of the visit, President Lee said, “There seems to have been more progress than we expected, and we shared a great deal of understanding,” and “Even on matters that could lead to confrontation, we were able to find a very amicable path toward resolution.”
