President Lee Jae Myung (left) on Jan. 6 exchanges greetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

By Xu Aiying
Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Lee Jae Myung on Jan. 6 during his state visit to China attended talks with two high-ranking Chinese leaders on specific methods for the "mature" development of the strategic cooperative partnership between both countries.

In Beijing, President Lee that day held separate meetings each with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who heads the administrative body State Council of China, and Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the legislature National People's Congress.

"In my two meetings with President Xi Jinping yesterday, we agreed on the further mature development of our strategic cooperative partnership toward a direction that can contribute to the people's livelihoods and peace," President Lee said in his talks with the premier.

"Through this schedule, we will make 2026 the first year of the full restoration of bilateral ties and solidify the development of our relations as an irreversible trend of the times."

"Premier Li oversees the Chinese economy to ensure the stability of the people's livelihoods, and as the Chinese delegate to the trilateral summit with Korea and Japan, he contributes to laying the basis for regional peace and cooperation," he added. "I expect him to continue playing a big role in developing bilateral relations based on the people's livelihoods and peace."

Premier Li said, "Through the strategic guidance between the leaders of Korea and China, bilateral relations are taking a new dimension," adding, "Both sides keep promoting cooperation in sectors, and this will undoubtedly provide greater welfare to the people of the two countries."

President Lee Jae Myung (left) on Jan. 6 takes a photo with Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Earlier that day, President Lee and Chairman Zhao agreed that building strong political trust between the two governments and friendly bonds between the people of both sides form an important cornerstone for the stable development of bilateral relations.

President Lee stressed not only the expansion of people-to-people exchanges but also reinforcement of joint cultural programs to raise mutual understanding and friendship between Koreans and Chinese. He also asked the Chinese side to consider lending another pair of giant pandas.

To lay the basis for bilateral relations, Chairman Zhao pledged support to stimulate exchanges in fields like legislation as well as youth, culture, media, academia and local governments.

xuaiy@korea.kr