During the recent APEC summit held in Seoul, Chinese President Xi Jinping made headlines by presenting South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung with two Xiaomi flagship smartphones. What seemed at first like a friendly exchange of gifts carried an underlying diplomatic nuance that drew attention far beyond the conference hall.

Witnesses at the event said Xi smiled warmly as he handed over the high-end devices, telling Lee, “This is the Xiaomi flagship, the screen is made here in Korea. One for you and one for your wife.” The remark, while seemingly casual, hinted at a layered message about the interdependence between China’s manufacturing ecosystem and South Korea’s advanced technology industry.

The gesture came at a time when regional trade tensions and supply chain realignments have been intensifying across Asia. China’s smartphone giant Xiaomi has risen to compete globally, relying on partnerships with foreign component suppliers—many of whom are based in South Korea, including Samsung and LG Display. Xi’s comment, therefore, was not just a compliment but a reminder of how deeply intertwined both economies remain in the global tech race.

For President Lee, the exchange showcased a moment of diplomatic civility amid a summit that focused heavily on trade, security, and innovation. South Korea’s ongoing efforts to balance its strategic ties between Washington and Beijing have often placed Seoul in a delicate position. The understated “gift diplomacy” of China—symbolized through locally connected technology—added a touch of soft power to Beijing’s engagement strategy.

Observers in Africa and beyond see this interaction as another sign of how technology and diplomacy now move hand in hand. The symbolism of a phone—a device that connects billions—resonates in regions like Africa where mobile innovation continues to shape domestic growth, fintech expansion, and digital inclusion. It also underlines how nations are increasingly using tech products not merely as consumer goods but as instruments of state signaling.

In the wider context, President Xi’s gesture at APEC reflects Beijing’s enduring confidence in its homegrown technology brands and its broader ambition to lead in high-tech manufacturing. For South Korea, the moment underscored its quiet but crucial role as a global supplier powering the very devices driving the new digital order.

As cameras flashed and smiles were exchanged, it was clear that this was more than a gift of two phones—it was a carefully composed message about partnership, production, and power in the era of technological diplomacy.