Xi Jinping calls on China, ROK to safeguard fruits of WWII victory

China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) should join hands to safeguard the fruits of the victory in World War II and protect peace and stability in Northeast Asia, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday.

Xi made the remarks during talks with ROK President Lee Jae Myung in Beijing. Lee is in China for a state visit.

Recalling history, Xi said that more than 80 years ago, the two peoples made tremendous national sacrifices and won the victory against Japanese militarism.

China and the ROK shoulder important responsibilities in maintaining regional peace and promoting global development, and share a wide range of common interests, Xi said. He called on both sides to firmly stand on the right side of history and make correct strategic choices.

Xi extended sincere New Year greetings to the ROK people and said that he and President Lee have met twice and paid reciprocal visits, reflecting the high importance both sides attach to bilateral relations.

As close neighbors and friends, China and the ROK should maintain close exchanges, frequent communication and mutual engagement, Xi said. He stressed that China has always placed relations with the ROK high on its neighborhood diplomacy agenda and maintained consistency and stability in its policy toward the ROK.

China stands ready to work with the ROK to firmly uphold the direction of friendly cooperation, adhere to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win results, and advance the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership along a sound and steady track, Xi said. Such efforts, he added, will better serve the interests of the two peoples and inject positive energy into regional and global peace and development.

Xi also noted that the two countries have long upheld the principles of "paramount importance of peace" and "seeking harmony without uniformity," transcending disparities in social systems and ideologies to achieve shared development. He called on both sides to carry forward this fine tradition, enhance mutual trust, respect each other's chosen development paths, and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns.

Differences should be properly managed and resolved through dialogue and consultation, the Chinese president said.

Xi noted that the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has adopted recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), outlining a blueprint for China's development over the next five years and offering broad opportunities for countries worldwide.

China and the ROK share close economic ties with industrial and supply chains deeply interwoven, and the bilateral cooperation is mutually beneficial, Xi said. The two countries should further align their development strategies, strengthen policy coordination, expand shared interests, and achieve more cooperation results in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, green industries and the silver economy, he added.

Xi also underscored the importance of expanding people-to-people exchanges, including among youth, media, sports, think tanks and local governments, so that positive narratives become the mainstream of public opinion.

As beneficiaries of economic globalization, China and the ROK should jointly oppose protectionism, practice true multilateralism, and contribute to a more equal and orderly multipolar world, as well as a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, Xi stressed.

President Lee extended New Year greetings to the Chinese people and said the ROK and China are close neighbors with a long history of friendly exchanges. He recalled that the two countries once fought side by side against Japanese militarism and expressed appreciation for China's protection of historical sites related to ROK's independence movement against Japanese colonial control in China.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have developed close and fruitful cooperation, Lee said, noting that the ROK attaches great importance to its relationship with China.

He said the ROK is willing to take the first head-of-state diplomacy of the new year as an opportunity to consolidate the momentum of fully resuming and advancing bilateral relations, seek common ground while shelving differences, and deepen the strategic cooperative partnership.

Lee reaffirmed the ROK's respect for China's core interests and major concerns, and its position on one China. He said bilateral economic and trade cooperation has played a positive role in the socio-economic development of both countries, and expressed hope to seize opportunities arising from China's 15th Five-Year Plan to achieve more practical cooperation outcomes.

The ROK president also called for enhanced people-to-people exchanges to foster mutual understanding and trust, and said the ROK is ready to strengthen multilateral coordination with China to contribute to global prosperity and development. He wished China full success in hosting this year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of 15 cooperation documents covering areas including scientific and technological innovation, ecological environment, transportation, and economic and trade cooperation.