By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon met with Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing on August 21 and expressed his hope for President Xi Jinping's participation in APEC, saying, “I hope that this will serve as an opportunity to restore relations between South Korea and China.”
On the afternoon of the same day, ahead of the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China (August 24), Governor Kim met with Ambassador Dai Bing at the Gyeonggi Provincial Central Cooperation Headquarters to discuss ways to strengthen practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including economy, culture, industry, and local exchanges.
He said, “I have had a good relationship with Chinese friends since I worked for the central government. Vice Premier He Lifeng was my counterpart when he was the vice premier for economic affairs,” introducing his relationship with China.
He also said, "Economic cooperation between South Korea and China must be strengthened. South Korea and China support trade, friendship, and industrial cooperation, so cooperation between the two countries is important,“ he said, emphasizing, ”In particular, I will propose human exchange, which I have been focusing on for a long time, during my business trip next month."
Chinese Ambassador Dai Bing said, "I am grateful for the governor's insight, which is not only knowledgeable about Gyeonggi Province but also about the international situation. China and South Korea share common issues. Both countries are strong supporters of the international trade system and advocate for the protection of supply chains and production networks, as well as trade security."
He continued, “Korea is a neighboring country and China's largest trade partner. As the governor is a respected leader in the economic field and has extensive experience in bilateral trade, we hope you will promote cooperation between companies and regions. The embassy will provide all necessary support for this.”
