By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

President Lee Jae-myung spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping by phone on June 10, 2025, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized a partnership for strategic cooperation during his first phone conversation with President Lee Jae-myung.

This is the third time President Lee has held a phone conversation with a foreign leader since taking office, following conversations with US President Donald Trump on June 6 and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba the day before.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, Xi congratulated Lee on his election again during the phone call that morning.

Xi said, “China and South Korea are close neighbors that cannot be moved,” adding, “Over the 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have actively promoted exchanges and cooperation in various fields, transcending differences in ideology and social systems, and have achieved mutual success and common development.”

He went on to explain, “A healthy, stable, and continuously deepening China-South Korea relationship is in line with the trend of the times and the fundamental interests of the peoples of both countries, and is also beneficial to regional and global peace, stability, development, and prosperity.”

President Xi emphasized, “We must uphold the original intention of China-South Korea diplomatic relations, firmly adhere to the direction of friendly neighborly relations, and uphold the goals of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation to further develop the strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level.”

He said, “This means bringing more benefits to the people of both countries and injecting more certainty into the chaotic regional and international situation.”

He also said, “We must strengthen exchanges at all levels to enhance strategic mutual trust. We must closely coordinate bilateral cooperation and multilateral coordination, jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and ensure the stability and smooth operation of global and regional industrial supply chains.”

Furthermore, President Xi stated, “We must deepen cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding, and lay the groundwork for public opinion to ensure that China-South Korea friendship takes root in the hearts of the people of both countries. We must respect each other's core interests and major concerns, firmly uphold the overall direction of bilateral relations, and ensure that China-South Korea relations always develop along the correct trajectory.”

In response, President Lee expressed agreement with President Xi's remarks, stating, “South Korea and China are geographically close, have a long history of exchange, and are closely connected economically, commercially, and culturally,” according to Xinhua News Agency.