The forum was co-organized by KIEP and the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC), with the aim of strengthening research collaboration between the two countries’ leading government-affiliated think tanks and exploring future directions for bilateral economic cooperation.

The forum opened with welcoming remarks by President Siwook Lee of KIEP and President Wang Xuekun (王雪坤) of CAITEC, followed by congratulatory remarks from Mr. Daekyu Park, Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in China, and Mr. Yin Gang (尹刚), Deputy Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs, Ministry of Commerce of China.

In his opening remarks, President Lee emphasized that, as Korea and China develop new national strategies amid rapid shifts in the global trade environment and ongoing supply chain reconfiguration, the two countries are well positioned to jointly redefine a forward-looking framework for cooperation. He noted that while Korea–China economic cooperation has expanded significantly over the past three decades, intensifying industrial competition and structural changes in global value chains have revealed the limitations of existing cooperation models. He stressed the need to broaden cooperation into new areas such as digital transformation, green transition, emerging industries, and services.

President Lee further highlighted that advancing institutional frameworks, including follow-up negotiations to the Korea–China FTA and the RCEP framework, alongside the restoration of people-to-people exchanges and mutual trust, would enable bilateral economic cooperation to achieve a renewed leap forward in line with the demands of a new era.

Session 1, titled “New Environment and New Phase of Korea–China Economic and Trade Cooperation,” featured a presentation by Dr. Zhu Siqiao (朱思翘), Associate Researcher of the Asia Research Institute at CAITEC, on “A New Framework for Cooperative Competition in Korea–China Economic and Trade Relations: Joint Rule-Making and Strategic Alignment.”

This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Sang Hun Lee, Research Fellow at the China Team of KIEP, on “New Tasks for Korea–China Economic Cooperation amid Changes in the Trade Environment.”

Session 2, held under the theme “New Areas and New Models of Korea–China Economic and Trade Cooperation,” included a presentation by Dr.  Moon Ji Young, Associate Research Fellow at the China Team of KIEP, on “Expanding Korea–China Economic Cooperation through Collaboration in Emerging Industries.”

Subsequently, Dr. Cai Guiquan (蔡桂全), Associate Researcher at the Asia Research Institute of CAITEC, delivered a presentation titled “A New Qualitative Leap in Korea–China Economic and Trade Cooperation.”

Session 3 focused on “New Platforms and New Mechanisms for Korea–China Economic and Trade Cooperation.” Ms. Zhang Xueyan (张雪妍), Associate Researcher at the Asia Research Institute of CAITEC, presented on “Practical Approaches to Korea–China Economic and Trade Cooperation: FTAs, Joint Industrial Park Development, and Local-Level Cooperation.”

This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Heo Jaichul, Head of the Japan and East Asia Team at KIEP, titled “Exploring New Growth Drivers for Korea–China Economic and Trade Cooperation and Promoting Local-Level Collaboration.”

The international forum brought together a wide range of participants, including senior researchers from KIEP and CAITEC, officials from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in China, the Ministry of Commerce of China (Asia Department), the UNDP Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI) Secretariat, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Participants engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanged diverse perspectives on ways to expand and strengthen bilateral cooperation between Korea and China.

- Title: The 5th Korea–China Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum

- Topic: Challenges and Directions for Korea–China Economic and Trade Cooperation amid Turbulence in the Global Trade Environment

- Date & Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 10:30–17:30

- Venue: V. Continent Beijing Parkview Wuzhou Hotel, Beijing, China

- Hosts: Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC)

- Contact: Jae Hee Choi, Senior Researcher, China Team (jhchoi@kiep.go.kr)