新年伊始首访中国，李在明有何考量？

Group 1 - The visit of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to China from January 4 to 7, 2026, marks his first visit to China since taking office in June 2022 and is significant as it is the first visit by a South Korean president to China in six years [1][3] - The timing of the visit is strategic, as it aims to coordinate policies before former President Trump’s visit to China and to strengthen bilateral relations ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations in February 2026 [3] - The visit is expected to focus on enhancing economic cooperation and cultural exchanges, particularly in the context of the China-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) upgrade negotiations and future industry collaboration [3][5] Group 2 - The relationship between China and South Korea is crucial, with China being South Korea's largest trading partner and South Korea projected to be China's second-largest trading partner in 2024 [3] - Lee Jae-myung's administration is working to correct the previous administration's one-sided diplomatic approach towards the US and Japan, aiming for a more balanced relationship with China [4][5] - The visit is seen as an opportunity to stabilize and advance the strategic partnership between China and South Korea, especially in light of recent diplomatic tensions [3][5]