S. Korea's Lee takes selfie with Xi using smartphone gifted by China leader

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung took a selfie with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit to China, using a Xiaomi smartphone that Xi had gifted him last year. Lee shared the photo on social media, writing that it was “the shot of a lifetime” and expressing hopes for more communication and cooperation between the two countries. The selfie included both leaders’ wives and was taken after a dinner in Beijing.

During the visit, Lee also met Chinese Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji for talks before traveling to Shanghai. He raised the possibility of China leasing South Korea a new pair of giant pandas, adding to the four already in South Korea. These discussions followed an earlier agreement to launch working-level talks about the pandas.

Lee is scheduled to visit a historic site in Shanghai that once housed the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, established by independence activists during Japan’s colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. The visit highlights both cultural diplomacy and ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between South Korea and China.

Source : https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/68065

Comprehension

What device did President Lee use to take the selfie with Xi Jinping?
What message did Lee share along with the selfie?
Which Chinese officials did Lee meet besides Xi Jinping?
What cultural request did Lee make during his talks with China?
Why is the Shanghai site Lee plans to visit historically significant?

Discussion

How can small gestures, like taking a selfie, impact diplomatic relations?
Why might countries exchange gifts during official visits?
What role do cultural symbols, like pandas, play in diplomacy?
How can historical sites strengthen international relations?
Do social media posts by world leaders influence public perception? Why or why not?

Vocabulary

State visit – an official visit by a head of state to another country
Diplomacy – managing relationships between countries
Lease – to temporarily borrow or rent something, usually property or animals in this context
Provisional government – a temporary government set up before an official one
Colonial rule – control or occupation of a country by another nation