At World Business Leaders Roundtable, Governor Nam calls for economic cooperation between Korea and China and requests expansion of investment into Gyeonggi

Governor Nam discusses ways to strengthen practical economic cooperation and public diplomacy; accepts invitation to Boao Forum for Asia 

◇ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil returned home from a visit of one night and two days to China after achieving significant results in strengthening Korea-China public diplomacy. File photo from Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil paid a visit of one night and two days to China to participate in the World Business Leaders Roundtable, and returned home on November 12 after achieving significant results in strengthening Korea-China public diplomacy.

At the World Business Leaders Roundtable, Governor Nam, in his opening remarks, proposed ways to strengthen exchange and cooperation in economic and technological areas, and discussed practical ways to boost economic cooperation between Gyeonggi Province and China with important Chinese figures in politics and economy. He also realized other diplomatic achievements including an invitation to the Boao Forum for Asia.  

At the World Business Leaders Roundtable held in Beijing on the morning of November 12, Governor Nam, in his opening remarks, made categorized proposals for strengthening exchange and cooperation between the two nations, including: creating a Korea-China digital contents forum; establishing cooperative relations in economic and technological areas between Pangyo Techno Valley and Zhongguancun in Beijing; and holding a Korea-China economic forum in Gyeonggi. He also expressed his hopes that many Chinese and global enterprises will pay greater attention to the promising markets of Korea and Gyeonggi Province.

Governor Nam said, “We’re going to establish cooperative relations in economic and technological areas between Zhongguancun and Pangyo Techno Valley, the two ‘Silicon Valleys’ of Asia. Gyeonggi Province will undertake technology investment in China, and China will pursue technology investment in Gyeonggi Province through the Haidian Institute (an organization of Zhongguancun).” He also asked for greater interest from Chinese business leaders, saying, “A Korea-China economic forum will start in Gyeonggi Province this coming May; we’re going to provide a venue for win-win cooperation between China and Gyeonggi Province.”

Zhongguancun, the ‘Silicon Valley’ of China, is a cutting edge IT industrial complex on a site of 488㎢, 168 times the size of Yeouido, that houses approximately 14 thousand companies and 1.5 million resident employees. Gyeonggi Province has been seeking to facilitate a business agreement between Pangyo Techno Valley and the Haidian Institute, an organization of Zhongguancun, to promote technology exchange.

On November 11, before the conference, Governor Nam received an invitation to the Boao Forum for Asia which is to be held in Hainan of the People’s Republic of China in March next year.

At the reception dinner for the World Business Leaders Roundtable, Governor Nam received an official invitation from Zhou Wenzhong, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia.

In response, Governor Nam said, “The world economic order has been centered on the western world so far. I’d like to see it shift to Asia through the Boao Forum.” He accepted the invitation, saying, “I’d like to participate in discussions on visions for the future of Asia, and I anticipate that the forum will play a constructive role to that end.”

The Boao Forum is an economic assembly that is held for the Asian region every year in Boao of Hainan Province, China, with the aim of promoting economic development through cooperation among Asian countries. A total of 26 countries including Korea, China, Japan and Australia have been taking part in the forum as member nations. The next forum is scheduled to be held on March 28 next year under the theme of ‘Asia’s New Future: Toward a Community of Common Destiny.’

Governor Nam, in an interview with local press on November 12, gave his opinion regarding the Korea-China FTA, economic collaboration, cooperative exchange between Gyeonggi Province and Guangdong Province, and the role of China in peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula.

In an interview with the Southern Daily, the official Guangdong Communist Party newspaper, Governor Nam stated his view on the Korea-Chia FTA, saying, “I expect that the FTA successfully reached between Korea and China will help upgrade overall economic relations between the two nations, and add power to discussions for regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region. What is important is to find win-win solutions for both. Gyeonggi Province and its think tanks will work on finding ways for both countries to mutually uphold strong points and complement weak points.”

He also expressed his hopes that Gyeonggi Province and Guangdong Province, which account for significant portions of the economies of their respective nations, can take the Korea-China FTA as an opportunity to expand their inter-regional economic cooperation, especially in technology and knowledge-based industries, and to drive economic growth in both countries.

In response to a question regarding China’s role for peace on the Korean Peninsula, Governor Nam requested that China play a constructive role, saying, “I hope Chinese leaders and citizens share a common understanding of the fact that a denuclearized and unified Korean Peninsula is far better for peace and development in China as well as in Northeast Asia than a nuclearized and divided Korean Peninsula.”

An official of Gyeonggi Province explained the results of the visit to China, saying, “Governor Nam created an opportunity to extend the role of local governments in public diplomacy at a time when relations with China are more critical than ever following the Korea-Chia FTA and diplomatic efforts between North Korea and Japan. I expect exchange and cooperation between Gyeonggi Province and China to be strengthened even further.”

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201411131034597055C048&s_code=C052