BEIJING (January 5, 2026) – On Monday, President Lee Jae Myung carried out the full official program of his state visit to China alongside President Xi Jinping. The day’s schedule included a state welcoming ceremony, a bilateral summit meeting, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony, and a state banquet.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., President Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung arrived at the Great Hall of the People where they were formally received by President Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan. The two leaders reviewed the Chinese honor guard and proceeded to the summit venue, engaging in brief cordial remarks along the way.

The summit commenced at 4:47 p.m. and continued for approximately 90 minutes—30 minutes longer than initially scheduled. During the meeting, the two leaders held in-depth discussions on a broad range of outstanding issues in Korea–China relations. Following the summit, a signing ceremony was held for 14 MOUs between relevant government ministries and agencies of both countries, as well as for the presentation of a Certificate of Donation concerning a pair of Qing Dynasty stone lion sculptures from China.

Having reached a consensus at the summit to expand exchanges in culture and content in a gradual and phased manner, beginning with mutually acceptable areas, the two leaders agreed to advance consultations on specific details.

Furthermore, the two leaders agreed on the importance of making the West Sea a “peaceful and co-prosperous sea” to ensure the stable and long-term development of Korea–China relations. They also committed to continue constructive consultations on issues concerning structures in the West Sea. 

Regarding illegal fishing, President Lee called on China to improve order in fishing practices in the West Sea, including through enhanced guidance for fishermen and strengthened enforcement. The two sides will maintain relevant communication going forward.

In addition, during this summit, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared view that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are in the mutual interests of both Korea and China, and confirmed China’s commitment to playing a constructive role to this end. 

The key MOUs signed during this summit and their main purposes are as follows: 

The MOU on the Establishment of a Dialogue Mechanism for Commercial Cooperation concerns holding the Korea-China Minister of Commerce Meeting on a regular basis, and the MOU on Strengthening Cooperation in Korea-China Industrial Parks was signed to vitalize investment between industrial parks and consolidate cooperation in industry and supply chains.

The MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Innovation was signed to strengthen innovation ecosystem cooperation by expanding Korea–China partnerships in the SME sector to include the business venture and startup sectors.

The MOU on Digital Technology Cooperation concerns strengthening the Korea-China partnership in the digital economy; the MOU on Cooperation in the Fields of the Environment and Climate Change aims to expand the scope of environmental collaboration to include not just air quality, but also climate change; and the MOU on Cooperation in the Protection of Children’s Rights and the Promotion of Child Welfare was signed to address the shared challenges of a low birth rate and aging population.

The Arrangement on Inspection and Sanitary Requirements for Imported and Exported Wild Aquatic Products was signed to expand the range of Korea’s exports of wild-caught seafood, and the MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Safety of Foods will help Korean food companies swiftly enter the Chinese market.

The MOU for Reinforced Cooperation in the Field of Intellectual Property and the MOU on Mutual Cooperation for the Border Protection of Intellectual Property Rights were signed to bolster intellectual property protection and advance the competitiveness of Korean businesses operating in China.

Finally, the Pair of Stone Lion Sculptures that Korea plans to donate to China are Chinese artifacts purchased in Japan in the 1930s by Chun Hyungpil (pen name Kansong), a prominent figure in the preservation of Korean cultural heritage. In accordance with the wishes of the late Chun, who believed that Chinese cultural artifacts should eventually be returned to their country of origin, the Kansong Art Museum began pursuing a plan in 2016 to donate such artifacts to China. However, the initiative was suspended due to various difficulties. On the occasion of today’s Korea–China summit, the National Museum of Korea has concluded a donation agreement with China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration.

In Chinese tradition, stone lion statues are believed to ward off misfortune and bring prosperity, and they were typically placed at the main gates of homes or in front of tombs. The statues are scheduled to be delivered to China in April or May.

Following the MOU signing ceremony, President Xi spoke with President Lee and reaffirmed that the stone sculptures were originally obtained in Japan. It is hoped that the donation of the artworks will contribute to the advancement of friendly sentiments between the peoples of Korea and China.