South Korean President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a Korea-China Business Forum held at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on January 5, 2026. Photo: IC

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said Monday in Beijing during a business forum that South Korea and China need to expand cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), beauty and cultural products, according to Yonhap News Agency. He also likened the economic and trade ties between the two countries as "ships that sail on the same sea in the same direction."

"The Republic of Korea and China are ships that sail on the same sea in the same direction," Lee said. "The two countries have helped each other grow through interconnected industrial supply chains and led the global economy," per YNA.

Lee said it is time to "chart a new path" as the global trade environment is changing rapidly, with technology evolving at a fast pace and supply chains becoming increasingly unpredictable. "If we rely only on inertia, we could miss important turning points," he said, the report said.

"We need to forge a new level of cooperation through future technologies, like AI, which can deepen collaboration across both manufacturing and services," he said. Consumer goods, such as household products, cosmetics and food, as well as cultural content, including films, music, games and sports, could also offer a "new breakthrough" in economic ties between the two nations, he added, per YNA.

Lee Jae-myung arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a state visit to China from January 4 to 7. He attended the opening ceremony of Korea-China Business Forum on Monday in Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on December 30 that the upcoming trip will be President Jae-myung's first visit to China after coming into office. China and the ROK are each other's important neighbor and cooperation partner. 

"We hope that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, this visit will play a positive role in advancing the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership," the spokesperson added.

Global Times