Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for a state visit beginning Sunday, amid heightened tensions between China and Japan over Taiwan. Analysts suggest the visit, Lee's second meeting with Xi in two months, is a strategic move by China to strengthen bilateral ties and economic cooperation before South Korea engages with Japan. South Korea aims to restore relations with Beijing, its largest trading partner, seeking a balanced approach amidst complex geopolitical dynamics involving the U.S. alliance and North Korea.