BEIJING -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae-myung arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a state visit to China from Jan 4 to 7.

It is Lee's first visit to China since he took office. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said that China and the ROK are important neighbors and partners. It is expected that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, this visit will play an active role in promoting the further development of the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership, the spokesperson added.