South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping as he seeks to reset frayed ties with his country's biggest trading partner.
Regional security and Beijing's unofficial ban on Korean pop culture are also on the agenda for Monday's meeting, which is their second summit since November, when Xi visited South Korea.
Given what a vital economic partner China is, experts say Lee is looking for assurances that it would not weaponise that relationship in the face of political tensions in the region.
For weeks, China and Japan have been engaged in a diplomatic row over the former's claim on self-governed Taiwan, putting Seoul, a key regional power, in an awkward spot.
Beijing ramped up the rhetoric against Japan after its prime minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in parliament that Tokyo could respond with its own self-defence force in case of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
So visiting Beijing at this time is a significant move for Lee. Like Japan, South Korea is an ally of the US, which supports Taiwan and supplies arms for its defence.
Lee, who arrived in Beijing on Sunday, will attend a banquet hosted by Xi on Monday. He will then meet China's Premier Li Qiang and the chairman of parliament, Zhao Leji, before flying to Shanghai.
Speaking before Korean residents in Beijing, Lee stated that his visit would “serve as a new starting point to fill in the gaps in Korea-China relations, restore them to normal and upgrade them to a new level”.
This is the first visit by a South Korean leader since 2019. The relationship soured under Lee's predecessor, impeached ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was very critical of China.
Xi's eagerness to meet Lee signals the pressure he faces in finding a regional ally, suggesting that China's demand is clear: side with China and denounce Japan.
Lee is expected to hold a memorial service in Shanghai for activists who fought for Korea's independence from Japan. While Korea remains deferential toward China, it attempts to strengthen ties with both Japan and China.
Seoul has long walked a diplomatic tightrope between Beijing and Tokyo, with Lee reportedly planning to visit Japan later this month to meet with Takaichi.
Security on the Korean Peninsula will also be part of the discussions with China, as Lee has sought to engage North Korea diplomatically, needing Chinese cooperation to persuade Kim Jong Un to relinquish his nuclear arsenal.
Increased military activity from North Korea remains a concern, and it is uncertain how much Lee will push China on this issue, given Xi's commitment to strengthening relations with Pyongyang.
Additional challenges include China's unofficial restrictions on Korean entertainment, which have persisted for a decade following South Korea's deployment of a US anti-missile system, viewed as a threat by China.
On top of addressing cultural exchanges, Lee aims to persuade Beijing to allow access to its vast market of K-pop and K-dramas, which are currently curtailed.
Amidst various diplomatic challenges, Lee's visit reflects a critical effort to navigate the complex relationships shaping East Asian politics.
