China's Xi to host South Korea's Lee from Sunday amid Japan tensions

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By Joyce Lee, Heejin Kim and Laurie Chen China's President Xi Jinping will host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on a state visit starting on Sunday, as Beijing looks to strengthen ties with Seoul amidst rising tensions with Japan over Taiwan. Relations between China and Japan hit the lowest point in years after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan.Lee's visit will mark his second meeting with Xi in just two months, an unusually short interval that, analysts say, signals China's keen interest in boosting economic collaboration and tourism.And the timing of the invitation for a state visit - Lee's first to China since taking office in June - is also a calculated move to deepen bilateral relations particularly before the South Korean leader visits Japan, they say."China wants to emphasize South Korea's importance slightly more than before," said Kang Jun-young, professor of political economics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies."China appears to have strategically decided that it would be better to have (Lee) visit China before South Korea holds a summit with Japan again," he added. XI 'A TRULY GREAT' LEADER, LEE SAYSAhead of the trip, Lee gave an interview with China's CCTV on Friday, praising Xi."I think he's a truly great, visionary leader," Lee said. "He has driven China's economic growth and technology development in a very short period of time ... and he's leading the country very steadily despite a complicated geopolitical environment." There are many areas where two neighbors can cooperate, Lee said, including cutting-edge industries such as artificial intelligence. "For our relationship, the most important thing would be building economic cooperation that benefits both," Lee said. The Lee administration has said it aims to "restore" ties with Beijing, acknowledging China is South Korea's largest trading partner.The pivot follows strained relations with China under Lee's predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, due to his closer alignment with Washington and Tokyo, as well as criticism of China's handling of Taiwan.Now, South Korea is trying to maintain a balance but leaning towards cooperation with China to avoid being forced into any troubles that would threaten the Asian industrial powerhouse.Lee said in December he would not take sides in the diplomatic dispute b...

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