The 2024 China-Japan-Korea Industrial Cooperation & Development Forum Opens in Weifang

The 2024 China-Japan-Korea Industrial Cooperation & Development Forum opened at Weifang on October 17. Ban Ki-moon, former United Nations Secretary-General and Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia attended the keynote forum and delivered a speech. Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, delivered a video speech. Vice Governor Zhou Liwei, Secretary-General LEE Hee-Sup of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, and Secretary Liu Yun of the Weifang Municipal Committee, also delivered speeches. Wu Jianghao, Chinese Ambassador to Japan; Fang Kun, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in South Korea; Saito Kenji, Consul-General of Japan in Qingdao; Yoo Chang-soo, Consul-General of South Korea in Qingdao; Hwang Jae-won, Chief Representative of KOTRA China; and Yukio Minakawa, Chief Representative of JETRO Qingdao Representative Office, delivered speeches both online and offline. Zhang Chengwei, Deputy Secretary-General of the Provincial Government, attended the event. Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Guo Fei presided over the event, with city leaders Zhao Xuchun, Han Xingfu, and Feng Jiwei in attendance.

In his speech, Ban Ki-moon emphasized the broad prospects for cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea, highlighting the importance of institutionalizing trilateral cooperation and maintaining close communication within multilateral frameworks like ASEAN. He said, "We look forward to deepening economic, trade, and cultural exchanges among China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as the region, through mechanisms such as the China-Japan-Korea Industrial Cooperation & Development Forum and China-Japan-Korea Industries Expo. With the joint efforts of governments, businesses, and cultural sectors of the three countries, we aim to create a new era of more prosperous regional development."

In his speech, Ren Hongbin said that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the initiation of cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea. With the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and the leaders of Japan and South Korea, significant achievements have been made in economic and trade cooperation among the three countries. The forum, themed "Openness, Inclusiveness, Cooperation, and Win-Win Results", is of great practical significance. China Council for the Promotion of International Trade will strengthen the connectivity between government and enterprises, integrate internal and external resources, and facilitate the flow of supply and demand. Together with all parties, efforts will be made to promote the continuous advancement of economic and trade cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea, ultimately benefiting the three countries and their peoples.

In his speech, Zhou Liwei said that in recent years, Shandong has been implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, continuously expanding practical cooperation with Japan and South Korea, and taking solid steps to promote mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. This forum provides an important platform for local governments, experts and scholars, business associations, and entrepreneurs to strengthen friendships, expand exchanges, and deepen cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea. He said, "We are willing to work hand in hand with Japan and South Korea to advance industrial cooperation, achieve mutual benefits in trade, promote cultural exchanges, and strive for a higher level of win-win cooperation."

In his speech, LEE Hee-Sup expressed that the China-Japan-Korea Industrial Cooperation & Development Forum and China-Japan-Korea Industries Expo have become important international conferences and industrial development platforms to promote exchanges and cooperation among local governments and enterprises of the three countries. He expressed the belief that the holding of this event will promote exchanges and cooperation between local governments of China, Japan, and South Korea, and drive Shandong Province and Weifang to achieve higher quality development. The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat will continue to work with Shandong Province, Weifang, and relevant economic and trade organizations from the three countries to further build bridges for win-win cooperation.

In his speech, Liu Yun stated that Weifang has strong agricultural capabilities, a solid industrial foundation, developed scientific and educational resources, prominent openness advantages, and a long and prosperous cultural heritage. Currently, we are deeply studying and implementing the guiding principles of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the important speech by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his visit to Shandong. We are working to create new advantages in modern agriculture, enter new avenues for industrial upgrading, establish a technology-empowered hub, integrate into a new pattern of open development, and craft a new narrative of cultural and tourism integration. We are committed to writing a new chapter in the practice of Chinese modernization in Weifang. There is vast potential for deepening cooperation and achieving mutual benefits, with unlimited opportunities ahead. We look forward to using this event as a chance to enhance friendship and strengthen cooperation with guests and friends from all sectors, sharing new development opportunities and jointly creating a better future.

At the forum, experts and scholars, including Zhang Yunling, a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Chair Professor at Shandong University; Qiu Guohong, former Chinese Ambassador to South Korea; Sook Kim, former South Korean Ambassador to the United Nations; Zhuang Yan, Vice President of MUFG Bank (China), Ltd.; Min Zhidong, Deputy Director of Guangming Investment; Haruko Miyama, Executive Director of the Japan Science and Technology Agency; and Lee Sang-hoon, Chief Representative of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy Beijing Office, delivered keynote speeches. Their discussions focused on promoting local government cooperation, jointly building a modern industrial system, advancing the building of the China-Japan-ROK Free Trade Area, and achieving high-level implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

During the forum, a series of economic and trade exchange activities will be held, including the 10th China-Japan-Korea Industries Expo and China-Korea Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Exchange Conference, Investment in Japan Seminar, Korean Excellent Products Promotion Meeting, Cross-border E-commerce Ecological Optimization Seminar, Facility Agriculture Development Conference, Green Transition and Sustainable Development Roundtable, Dialogue on Law-Business Cooperation to Protect Enterprises and Go Global, Trilateral Cooperation Matchmaking Meeting of Local Governments in China, Japan, and Korea, BFSU Alumni Entrepreneurs' Trip to Weifang, Weifang Trip of Korean Overseas Chinese from Shandong Origin, and Canton Fair Businessmen's Trip to Weifang.