On the morning of January 6, 2026, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing with President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung, who is on a state visit to China.

Li Qiang said that at present, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-ROK relations are showing a new outlook. On the previous day, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Lee Jae Myung, providing strategic guidance and injecting strong impetus into deepening and developing the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership. China has always placed its relations with the ROK in an important position in its neighborhood diplomacy. China is ready to work with the ROK to uphold good-neighborliness and friendship, enhance strategic communication, consolidate political mutual trust, seek common ground while shelving and resolving differences, and promote the continuous development of bilateral relations along the right track to better benefit the two peoples.

Li Qiang pointed out that China and the ROK are important economic and trade partners. Over the past 30-plus years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have fully leveraged their complementary economic advantages, achieved fruitful cooperation results and effectively promoted common development. The two countries have close economic ties, efficient transportation links, and deeply interconnected industrial and supply chains. Both sides should abandon the zero-sum mindset, adhere to sound competition and cooperation, and provide more certainty for each other's development by strengthening cooperation. China is ready to work with the ROK to enhance market openness and connectivity, actively advance cooperation in emerging fields such as high-end manufacturing, artificial intelligence and new energy, deepen industrial integration and synergy, and jointly foster new drivers of development. The Chinese side welcomes ROK companies to expand their investment in China, and hopes that the ROK side will provide convenience for Chinese enterprises to invest in the country. China and the ROK should work together to uphold multilateralism and free trade, safeguard international fairness and justice, and contribute to promoting peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large.

Lee Jae Myung said that he and President Xi Jinping held successful talks on the previous day, during which they reached important common understandings on promoting the development of the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership. The ROK and China are close and friendly neighbors. The ROK attaches great importance to its relations with China, and is willing to respect each other's core interests, enhance bilateral dialogue and exchanges, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields such as economy and trade, keep pace with the times, and pursue win-win cooperation, so as to bring more benefits to the people of both countries. The ROK side actively encourages ROK enterprises to expand cooperation with China and welcomes Chinese companies to invest and do business in the country. The ROK is willing to enhance multilateral communication and coordination with China, jointly safeguard free trade, and promote regional and international peace and stability.

Wu Zhenglong attended the meeting.