Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly pushing for a visit to Korea later this month to attend t..

Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly pushing for a visit to Korea later this month to attend the Gyeongju Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit with his spouse, Peng Liyuan.

President Xi’s visit to Korea is the first in 11 years since 2014, and the schedule is expected to be virtually equivalent to a state visit. It contrasts with U.S. President Donald Trump’s review of his stay in Gyeongju for up to one night and two days.

According to both inside and outside the government on the 8th, the Chinese government recently informed the South Korean government that Xi and Peng will visit Gyeongju later this month on the occasion of APEC attendance.

In addition, China initially considered Gyeongju A Hotel as its accommodation during the APEC period in consideration of President Xi’s security, but it is reported that it chose Kolon Hotel in consideration of Peng’s visit to Korea at the last minute.

“APEC has a separate program for spouses at the top of member states,” a source said. “Considering that China is the chair of APEC next year, Peng’s attendance seems to have been promoted together.”

However, if President Xi stays only in Gyeongju, it is difficult to conduct a review of the honor guard and a dinner at symbolic places such as the presidential office, so the Korean government plans to do all the honorifics equivalent to state visits, not official state visits. As a result, a Korea-China summit between President Lee Jae-myung and President Xi will be held, while various friendship events between First Lady Kim Hye-kyung and First Lady Peng will also be held.

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