On January 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who was on a state visit to China. Within a little over two months, the two heads of state have met twice and exchanged visits, highlighting the importance both sides attach to China-South Korea relations.

International media has widely observed the positive momentum emerging in bilateral ties. Against a backdrop of profound and complex changes in the international and regional landscape, the constructive signals sent through this high-level diplomacy are yielding tangible benefits for peace and development in both countries and across the region.

China and South Korea are permanent neighbors and inseparable cooperation partners. More exchanges, frequent visits and sustained communication are conducive to the sound and steady development of bilateral relations.

Just over two months ago, during Xi's state visit to South Korea, a four-point proposal was put forward to open up new prospects for China-South Korea relations, guiding the reaffirmation of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

During their talks in Beijing, Xi emphasized that China has consistently placed relations with South Korea high on its regional diplomatic agenda and maintained continuity and stability in its policy toward South Korea.

Lee's choice of China as his first overseas destination at the beginning of the new year fully demonstrates South Korea's commitment to advancing ties with China. Looking ahead, as long as both sides adhere to the principles of valuing peace above all else and advocating for harmony without conformity, which transcend differences in social systems and ideologies, they can achieve mutual success and common development.

Accompanying Lee on his visit was a delegation of approximately 200 leading South Korean business figures. This is widely interpreted by the international community as reflecting the enthusiasm and confidence of South Korea's business sector in pursuing opportunities in China.

Economic ties between China and South Korea are close, with deeply integrated industrial and supply chains and mutually beneficial cooperation. While bilateral economic and trade relations have undergone changes in recent years, the fundamental reality of the two sides' deeply intertwined interests has not changed, nor has the win-win nature of China-South Korea economic and trade cooperation.

China has long believed that the success of its neighbors contributes to its own prosperity, and remains committed to strengthening development strategy alignment and policy coordination with South Korea to expand shared interests.

The fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee deliberated on and adopted recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), laying out a blueprint for China's development in the coming five years while offering broad opportunities for countries around the world.

As China advances high-quality development, the space for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and South Korea will continue to expand, with promising prospects in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, green industries and the silver economy.

During the visit, the two sides signed 15 cooperation documents in fields such as science and technology, ecological environment, transportation, economy and trade. A South Korean media outlet noted that the momentum toward the comprehensive resumption and development of bilateral relations is being translated into concrete mechanisms, particularly in economic and trade cooperation.

Expanded exchanges in areas such as youth, media, sports, think tanks and sub-regional cooperation will help ensure that positive narratives become mainstream public opinion.

As the world undergoes accelerated changes unseen in a century, the international landscape has become more turbulent and intertwined. China and South Korea shoulder important responsibilities in safeguarding regional peace and promoting global development, with broad overlapping interests.

During their talks, both heads of state recalled that China and South Korea once fought side by side against Japanese militarist aggression. During his stay in China, Lee visited the historic site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai. An international media outlet interpreted this visit as a clear signal that historical issues have not been consigned to the past.

As countries that both suffered tremendous national sacrifices during World War II, China and South Korea should work together to uphold the outcomes of the victory in the war and jointly safeguard peace and stability in Northeast Asia. This is essential for upholding historical justice and for building a peaceful future for the region.

In the face of rising unilateralism and protectionism, closer cooperation between China and South Korea in advancing opening-up and upholding multilateralism will not only benefit their respective development, but also help maintain the stability and smooth functioning of regional and global industrial and supply chains, contributing to the advancement of an equal, orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial, inclusive economic globalization.

The current positive momentum in China-South Korea relations has not come easily and deserves to be significantly cherished by both sides. China stands ready to work with South Korea to advance friendly cooperation, promote mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and guide the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership toward steady development, delivering tangible benefits to both peoples and contributing positively to regional and global peace and development.