On December 21, the "2023 China-Korea Economic Development Forum" was successfully held in Seoul, co-sponsored by the Korea International Economic and Finance Society (IEFS), the Institute for Foreign Economic Policy-East Asian Economic Review (KIEP-EAER), and the Asia-Pacific Business and Economic Association (APAEM), and co-organized by Peking University, the Financial Commission of Korea, Seoul National University, and Gyeonggi University. Fang Kun, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Korea, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.
In his speech, Fang Kun said that in the context of the increasing unfavorable factors in the international geopolitical environment and the lack of momentum for the recovery of the world economy, it is very timely and necessary for experts and scholars from China and South Korea, as close partners, to gather together to discuss the economic situation and discuss development strategies. Over the past period, China has withstood external pressures and overcome internal difficulties to promote a continuous economic recovery. We are confident and capable of achieving long-term and stable development. The so-called "de-risking" cannot hinder the pace of China's development and cut off the deep connection between China and the world in the process of globalization. No matter how the international situation changes, China will always open its doors to construction and continue to expand high-level opening-up. China and South Korea are inseparable neighbors and important cooperative partners. In the face of the new situation, China and the ROK should keep pace with the times, eliminate interference, strive to cultivate new growth points for economic and trade cooperation, and further expand the cake of common interests.
On the same day, Fang Kun also met with Dong Zhiyong, vice president of Peking University, and other Chinese experts and scholars at the embassy, and the two sides exchanged views on promoting economic, trade and educational cooperation between China and the ROK under the new situation.