Key facts
- South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Dalian, China.
- Kim urged China to play a positive role in fostering dialogue between the two Koreas and between North Korea and the U.S.
- Kim also called for elevated bilateral exchanges in politics, economy, culture, and youth cooperation.
- South Korea will extend its temporary visa waiver program for Chinese short-term travelers until December.
- Li expressed China's willingness to build trust and expand cooperation, highlighting tech and semiconductor supply chains.
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Dalian, China, on June 23, 2026, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. Kim urged China to play a "positive" role in creating conditions for dialogue between the two Koreas and between North Korea and the United States. He expressed hope that Chinese leadership would engage on Korean Peninsula issues, given President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Pyongyang and China's relationship with North Korea. Kim also called for elevating bilateral exchanges in politics, economy, culture, and youth cooperation, and announced South Korea's extension of its temporary visa waiver program for Chinese short-term travelers until December. Premier Li responded with understanding regarding China's role and expressed willingness to build trust and expand cooperation, emphasizing innovative technologies and semiconductor supply chain stability. The meeting marked the first prime ministerial-level engagement between the two nations since 2019.
