南韩元首访中国大陆：经贸领军、释出修补关係讯号

南韩总统李在明展开為期四天访华行程，并於1月5日在北京与中国国家主席习近平会谈。这是李在明就任后首次访中，双方在区域局势紧张之际，对外释出「关係回暖、合作加速」的明确讯号。

此行以经贸為主轴。李在明率逾200名南韩企业人士随行，峰会期间两国签署多项政府与企业合作文件，聚焦科技、供应链与新兴產业，意在以务实合作重建互信。

在安全议题上，双方也谈及朝鲜半岛局势，确认恢復对话、降低紧张的重要性；但外界关注的文化交流限制等敏感问题，短期内仍可能难以完全鬆动。

South Korea’s leader visits mainland China, spotlighting trade and regional stability

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is in China on a four-day state visit that began Sunday (Jan. 4), culminating in a Beijing summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday (Jan. 5). The trip—Lee’s first visit to China since taking office last June—signals a push to stabilize and “fully restore” ties as regional tensions rise. 

Economic cooperation is the headline. Lee traveled with more than 200 business leaders from major conglomerates including Samsung, SK Group, and Hyundai. During the visit, Chinese and South Korean companies signed nine cooperation agreements, while the two governments also announced multiple cooperation documents across areas such as technology and other practical sectors. Lee emphasized expanding cooperation in AI, along with consumer industries such as beauty, food, and cultural content, and broader themes like supply-chain and digital-economy collaboration. 

Security issues are the second pillar. With North Korea’s recent missile activity adding pressure, both sides highlighted the need to resume dialogue and reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with China reiterating a willingness to play a constructive role. 

A sensitive undercurrent remains: South Korean officials have cautioned that China may still take time to ease its unofficial restrictions on Korean pop culture and content, despite renewed talk of people-to-people and cultural exchanges.