Beijing announced today that Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to South Korea next week, marking his first trip to the country in 11 years.
According to a statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit — made at the invitation of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung — will take place from October 30 to November 1. Xi will arrive in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, where the main events are scheduled to occur. The Seoul government has also confirmed the visit.
During his trip, President Xi is also expected to hold a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on October 30, the White House announced on Thursday.
South Korea will host the leaders of 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Gyeongju from October 31 to November 1, with Xi’s visit coinciding with the high-level meetings.
Xi last visited South Korea in 2014, during the presidency of Park Geun-hye, when bilateral relations were at their peak.
China and South Korea established official diplomatic relations in August 1992, and bilateral trade volume reached 267.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, reflecting the depth of their economic partnership.
