Seoul: President Lee Jae-myung on Tuesday spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping by phone, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported. This conversation marked Lee’s first official dialogue with Xi and his third with a foreign leader, following calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, during the call, President Xi emphasized the importance of elevating the strategic cooperation partnership between the two nations. Xi urged both Seoul and Beijing to work together to uphold multilateralism and free trade. He stressed the need to ensure stable and smooth global and regional industrial supply chains.

The discussions reflect a mutual interest in strengthening bilateral relations and collaborating on key international issues. Both leaders acknowledged the significance of maintaining strong economic ties and addressing challenges in the global economy.