A light-hearted exchange over smartphone security between Chinese President

and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung caught global attention during their meeting in Gyeongju on Saturday.

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As per Reuters, when Xi presented Lee with two Xiaomi smartphones—one for him and one for his wife—Lee smilingly asked, “Is the line secure?” prompting laughter among officials.

Xi responded with a grin, “You can check if there’s a backdoor,” referring to preinstalled software that could enable surveillance.

The remark drew laughter and applause from Lee, who clapped his hands in amusement as cameras captured the candid moment during the diplomatic gift exchange following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

According to The New York Times, Xi’s off-the-cuff humour stood out since China’s top leader is rarely seen speaking spontaneously in public.

The exchange came against the backdrop of long-standing concerns about Chinese technology and espionage.

Western countries, including the United States, Britain, and Australia, have restricted Huawei’s involvement in their 5G networks, while Xiaomi was once blacklisted by Washington before successfully contesting the decision in court.

Xi’s gift likely underscored his technological ambitions, as the China-made phones featured Korean displays—a symbolic gesture in the home country of

.

In return, Lee gifted Xi “the finest” wooden Go board crafted from Jeju Island’s prized Torreya nucifera wood and a traditional mother-of-pearl inlay lacquered tray.

During the summit, Lee also sought Xi’s cooperation in resuming dialogue with nuclear-armed

, marking Xi’s first visit to South Korea in 11 years.