Xi Jinping to Visit South Korea, Hold China-U.S., China-ROK Summits at Gyeongju APEC

Xi Jinping to Visit South Korea After 11 Years… China-ROK, U.S.-China Summits to be Held on Sidelines of Gyeongju APEC

Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in South Korea via Gimhae International Airport on October 30, 2025, marking his first visit to the Republic of Korea in 11 years. This visit is for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, where he will participate in a 2-night, 3-day schedule that includes summits with both South Korean and U.S. leaders. The APEC summit is drawing global attention as it could be a major turning point in international affairs. Xi Jinping’s visit raises expectations for China’s constructive role in resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula while simultaneously highlighting the challenge for South Korea to maintain balanced diplomacy amid intensifying strategic competition between the U.S. and China. The South Korean government is expected to seek ways to expand economic cooperation and strengthen security cooperation through these summits. They are also likely to urge China to play an active role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and discuss cooperation plans for advancing the Korean Peninsula peace process. Meanwhile, some are raising concerns about the potential impact of the U.S.-China summit results on the South Korean economy, and the government is focusing on thorough analysis and preparation of countermeasures.

Key Agenda: Stabilizing the Korean Peninsula Situation and Strengthening Economic Cooperation

Stabilizing the Korean Peninsula situation and strengthening economic cooperation are expected to be the main agenda items during the South Korea-China summit to be held during President Xi Jinping's visit. President Lee Jae-myung is expected to emphasize China's constructive role in the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue and request support for improving inter-Korean relations during the meeting with Xi Jinping. In addition, both countries are expected to discuss cooperation plans in various fields, including investment promotion, supply chain stabilization, and digital economy cooperation, to expand economic cooperation. In particular, amid the recent intensification of global supply chain instability, both countries are expected to seek ways to strengthen cooperation in economic security areas such as securing core mineral resources and semiconductor industry cooperation. Furthermore, cooperation plans in soft power areas such as expanding cultural exchanges and promoting people-to-people exchanges are also expected to be discussed. The South Korean government is expected to focus on further developing bilateral relations and securing momentum for advancing the Korean Peninsula peace process through this South Korea-China summit. However, South Korea also faces the challenge of maintaining balanced diplomacy amid tensions in U.S.-China relations, and the government is expected to focus on maximizing national interests through a careful diplomatic strategy.

U.S.-China Summit: Seeking Cooperation Amid Strategic Competition

As his first itinerary in South Korea, Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Busan. This U.S.-China summit is being held amid intensifying strategic competition between the two countries, and discussions are expected on various issues such as the restructuring of the global economic order, competition for technological hegemony, and the South China Sea issue. In particular, the U.S. is expected to raise concerns about China's unfair trade practices and human rights issues, while China is expected to express dissatisfaction with the U.S.'s pressure policies on China. However, both countries agree on the need for cooperation to resolve global issues such as climate change, pandemic response, and global supply chain stabilization, so there is a possibility of seeking cooperation plans within a limited scope. The results of this U.S.-China summit are expected to have a significant impact on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and the South Korean government is expected to closely monitor changes in U.S.-China relations and prepare response strategies. Some are raising concerns that deepening conflict between the U.S. and China could negatively impact the South Korean economy, and the government is focusing on preparing countermeasures for this. In addition, South Korea faces the challenge of maintaining a strong alliance with the U.S. while also developing relations with China in a balanced manner, and the government is expected to focus on maximizing national interests through careful diplomatic efforts.

Gyeongju APEC: A Venue for Multilateral Diplomacy

The Gyeongju APEC summit, held in conjunction with President Xi Jinping's visit, is expected to be an important venue for multilateral diplomacy. The APEC summit will be attended by leaders from 21 member countries in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss various global issues such as strengthening economic cooperation, digital economy transformation, and climate change response. In particular, the meeting is expected to focus on discussing effective implementation plans for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), measures to promote digital trade, and cooperation plans to achieve carbon neutrality goals. In addition, each country's leaders will have the opportunity to seek cooperation plans between individual countries through bilateral meetings. President Lee Jae-myung is expected to focus on strengthening South Korea's global leadership and contributing to the common prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region through this APEC summit. Furthermore, he met with U.S. President Donald Trump in the United States in August 2025, and will hold a South Korea-U.S. summit in Gyeongju in about two months. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi held a summit with Trump on October 28, 2025, and inspected the USS George Washington at the Yokosuka U.S. Naval Base. The South Korean government is expected to make every effort to successfully host this APEC summit, enhance its status in the international community, and broaden the horizons of economic diplomacy.

'Alliance Modernization' Discussions and ROK-U.S. Relations

The key contents of 'alliance modernization' will be discussed at the ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) scheduled for November 4, 2025. This is expected to be an important opportunity to set the future development direction of the ROK-U.S. alliance and establish a new framework for security cooperation. In particular, the SCM is expected to focus on discussing joint response plans to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, plans to strengthen extended deterrence execution, and plans to strengthen cyber security cooperation. In addition, discussions on sensitive issues such as wartime operational control transition and defense cost sharing are also possible. The ROK and the U.S. are expected to reaffirm the strength of the ROK-U.S. alliance through this SCM and focus on strengthening the alliance's capabilities in line with the changing security environment. Meanwhile, on October 23, 2025, a forum was held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building under the theme of 'Where is the ROK-U.S. Alliance Heading? Current Status and Response Tasks for Promoting ‘Alliance Modernization’', co-hosted by the 'National Solidarity for Revision of Unequal ROK-U.S. SOFA' and the Solidarity for Independent Unification and Peace, and National Assembly members Lee Joo-hee, Kim Jun-hyung, and Jeong Hye-kyung. This is an example of showing various perspectives on the ROK-U.S. alliance, and the government needs to collect these opinions and make rational policy decisions. The South Korean government is expected to promote policies in a direction that strengthens the ROK-U.S. alliance while maximizing national interests.