Despite anti-China protests in Seoul, South Korea and China deepened their economic ties on Saturday, signing seven bilateral agreements during President Xi Jinping’s state visit. The pacts include a won-yuan currency swap and MOUs on online crime and innovation.
President Xi, on his first visit to the U.S. ally in 11 years, called South Korea an “inseparable cooperative partner.” He and President Lee Jae Myung also discussed cooperation in AI, green industries, and on aging populations.
The visit was marked by public dissent, as hundreds of protesters marched in Seoul chanting “China Out” to voice concerns over Beijing’s influence. President Lee has previously ordered a crackdown on such rallies.
The summit also involved tense discussions. Lee raised concerns over Chinese sanctions on a South Korean shipbuilder and the long-standing entertainment ban linked to the 2017 THAAD missile system deployment.
While Lee’s main diplomatic goal was securing help on North Korea, that effort was immediately rebuffed by Pyongyang, which called his denuclearisation plan a “pipe dream.”
