South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Chinese Premier Li Qiang have agreed to strengthen their countries’ relations in a wide range of fields including economic cooperation.
Lee, who is visiting China as a state guest, and Li held talks in Beijing on Tuesday.
The South Korean government says environmental officials from the two sides discussed cooperation on giant pandas the same day.
South Korean media say the country has four pandas on loan from China.
Beijing seems amenable to leasing more pandas to promote cooperation with South Korea, while taking into consideration its souring relations with Japan.
On Monday, Lee posted a selfie with Chinese President Xi Jinping taken with a Chinese-brand smartphone Xi gave him as a gift last year.
The photo is apparently intended to show the two leaders’ friendly ties, but the South Korean president is expected to perform a diplomatic balancing act.
Lee told reporters last month that taking sides would end up escalating the dispute.
He is scheduled to visit Japan next week for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae.