Bridging history, forging future: A new chapter for China-ROK ties

Editor's note: Xiang Haoyu, a special commentator for CGTN, is a specially appointed research fellow at the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies, China Institute of International Studies. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

President of the Republic of Korea(ROK) Lee Jae Myung is on a state visit to China from January 4 to 7. This marks the first visit by a ROK president to China in over six years and the reciprocal visits between the heads of state of China and the ROK within a span of just two months, signifying that China-ROK relations are fully returning to the right track and embarking on a new chapter of development.

An ice-breaking journey

In the 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK, reciprocal visits by the heads of state within such a short period are unprecedented, especially against the backdrop of the bilateral relationship having experienced a low ebb in the past few years. The primary task of Lee's current visit is to mend the damaged cornerstone of mutual trust. In an interview before his trip, he emphasized that relations between Seoul and China would enter a new phase.

The expected meeting between Lee and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be the highlight of this visit. The strategic significance of the meeting lies in reaffirming the positioning of the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership and reaffirming respect for each other's core interests.

Seoul will explicitly reaffirm its respect for the one-China principle and commit to properly addressing the Taiwan question. This constitutes the political foundation of China-ROK relations and a prerequisite for the improvement and development of bilateral ties.

Meanwhile, both sides will strive to manage differences from a strategic height and jointly safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. As Wi Seong-rak, director of the National Security Office of the ROK President, noted, China and the ROK share common goals in safeguarding peace and stability in Northeast Asia. This also indicates that Lee is attempting to shift the ROK's security strategy to a more balanced and rational pragmatic track.

A journey of pragmatism

As can be seen from Lee 's itinerary, economic and trade cooperation is a key focus. Lee openly acknowledged that China has caught up with or even surpassed the ROK in many fields, and the two countries need to transform their past vertical cooperation into horizontal cooperation. Notably, a large economic delegation of 200 members has accompanied him, in the high-level talks.

China-ROK cooperation is advancing from traditional manufacturing to the green economy and innovative industries. Such a pragmatic attitude on the ROK side demonstrates that the industrial chains of Beijing and Seoul will not be "decoupled"; instead, they will achieve mutual benefit and win-win results at a higher level.

In addition, as soon as the news of Lee's visit to China was released, the stock prices of the ROK's entertainment, gaming and cosmetics sectors rose sharply. This fully reflects the strong desire of the public and business communities of the two countries for the resumption of people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation.

A journey of tracing roots

According to ROK media reports, Lee will also visit the former site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai. The year 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Kim Koo, a leader of the ROK's independence movement, and the 100th anniversary of the completion of the former site of the Provisional Government in Shanghai.

Visiting Shanghai in this special year is not only a way to pay tribute to the spirit of sacrifice of the martyrs of the independence movement, but also an opportunity to revisit the bitter and blood-stained history when China and the ROK stood side by side in the fight against Japanese militarism during the critical moments of their nations' survival. Shanghai witnessed the sparks of the ROK's independence movement and the shared life-and-death experiences of the Chinese and ROK peoples on the anti-fascist battlefield.

The just-concluded year 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. This endows Lee's visit with historical depth and contemporary significance that transcend bilateral relations. Both Beijing and Seoul, having suffered atrocities at the hands of Japanese militarism, know well that peace has not come easily.

At a time when Japan's historical revisionism is running rampant, and the achievements of the victory in World War II(WWII) and the post-war international order are facing challenges, it is particularly important for China and the ROK to speak out and take action together. Although Lee's visit to historical sites is not targeted at any third party, it is in itself a silent declaration: History shall not be tampered with, and the fruits of victory in WWII shall not be denied.

China and the ROK should jointly send a clear message to the world: We will never allow the recurrence of historical tragedies; and we will firmly oppose the resurgence of militarism, refuse to introduce the cold-war mentality of bloc confrontation into Asia and resist all acts of bullying that use strength to oppress the weak.

Lee's visit to China transcends history and reality. It is not only a beneficial journey to seek economic and trade dividends, but it should also be a journey of justice to build strategic consensus. In the new era of China-ROK relations, bilateral ties need not only the bond of interests, but also resonance rooted in history. It is necessary for Beijing and Seoul need to build a spiritual defence line based on a correct view of history and jointly safeguard peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

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