South Korean President Lee Jae-myung paid a state visit to China from 4 to 7 January 2026. It was the first visit by a South Korean president to China since 2019. The visit was intended to ‘fully restore’ bilateral relations, made possible by Lee Jae-myung’s pragmatic diplomacy, which prioritises the pursuit of national interests over ambitions of becoming a ‘global pivotal state’. Lee Jae-myung undertook a four-day state visit at the invitation of the Chinese President Xi Jinping to underline South Korea’s intent to re-engage China in the ever-changing political landscape of the region. When Xi Jinping visited South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting two months earlier, the top leaders of both countries displayed positive signals, and the Chinese leader invited Lee Jae-myung to China. Lee swiftly seized the opportunity and began building momentum for the summit by characterising Xi Jinping as an “exceptional leader with a broad vision” and China as a “truly reliable neighbour.”