South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung has prioritized pragmatic engagement with China since taking office, emphasizing economic cooperation, supply-chain stability, and dialogue on Korean Peninsula issues. The leaders held a summit in Beijing in January 2026 during Lee’s state visit, agreeing to restore strategic channels, advance free-trade talks, and expand cultural and technology exchanges amid $330 billion-plus bilateral trade. A follow-up meeting occurred in late September 2026 alongside North Korean missile tests, with both sides stressing regional peace and signing cooperation pacts. Ongoing diplomatic momentum, including potential multilateral forums, shapes trader views on the timing of any additional high-level contact within resolution windows.