Scene of the 2025 China-Korea Economic Development Forum

The restructuring of the global economic order has become a central issue in the current evolution of the world economic landscape, profoundly reshaping regional development pathways and the logic of international cooperation. Despite the complexities and uncertainties brought by factors such as adjustments in the global governance system and geopolitical-economic dynamics, economic and trade cooperation among Asia-Pacific nations has maintained a steady growth trajectory. The continuous efforts of all parties in areas such as policy coordination and the improvement of regional collaborative mechanisms have consistently fueled strong vitality, enabling joint responses to the challenges arising from this restructuring and unlocking new opportunities for development in the Asia-Pacific.

Against this backdrop, how to accurately position themselves amid the wave of restructuring the global economic order—both firmly seizing the opportunities for Asia-Pacific cooperation and effectively addressing potential risks—has become a key issue for Asia-Pacific countries in deepening practical collaboration. Centered precisely on this core theme, the 2025 China-South Korea Economic Development Forum will focus on exploring how to transform the challenges of order restructuring into drivers of development. This will be achieved by enhancing regional synergy in the Asia-Pacific, strengthening the resilience of industrial and supply chains, and refining regional governance rules—ultimately aiming not only to upgrade multilateral cooperation but also to boost the region’s overall global competitiveness.

This forum is jointly hosted by the Korea Economic Outlook Network, the Korean Economic Association, Peking University, Jeju Halla University, the Korea Development Institute (KDI), the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET), the Asia-Pacific Business and Economics Association, Kyonggi University, Zhengzhou Business University, Zhejiang Shuren University, the Institute of Chinese Humanities and Social Sciences at Kookmin University, and the Journal of Digital Intelligence and Economic Growth (JDIEG). It is supported by the Embassy of China in the Republic of Korea, the Representative Office of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in Korea, the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat among China, Japan, and the ROK, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province of Korea, and the Korea-China Chamber of Commerce. The event is organized by the China-South Korea Economic Development Research Institute and Fenhan Wang, with co-organization by Seoul National University, Shandong University, the Charhar Institute, the Peking University Market Economy Research Center, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Seoul Branch, the China Construction Bank Seoul Branch, the Oriental Beauty Valley Korea Center, Korea Yunda Express, Jiangsu Anlifeng Holding Group, Harmony Auto, and THE Huaying Association. Phoenix News, Fenhan Wang, and Wall Street Tech Eye serve as media partners.

The forum features a comprehensive agenda, including an opening ceremony, five thematic roundtable discussions, a series of academic forum events, and a closing ceremony, forming a complete and well-structured program. Scholars from prestigious universities both in China and abroad, such as Peking University and Kyonggi University, gathered to participate in the discussions. Among them, Kyonggi University, leveraging its profound expertise and strong capabilities in the field of international management, played a leading role in shaping the forum’s agenda, highlighting its academic leadership.

The forum officially commenced at 7:30 AM Beijing Time on October 24. During the opening session, opening remarks were delivered by Kim So-young, Representative of the Korea Economic Outlook Network, Professor at Seoul National University, and former Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission of Korea; Dong Zhiyong, Vice President of Peking University; and Lee Geun, President of the Korean Economic Association, Emeritus Professor of Seoul National University, and Distinguished Professor at Chung-Ang University. Welcoming remarks were given by Kim Seong-hoon, President of Jeju Halla University, and Chen Jianjun, Consul General of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Jeju. Congratulatory speeches were then delivered by Jo Dong-chul, President of the Korea Development Institute (KDI); Kwon Nam-hoon, President of the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET); and Yan Liang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat among China, Japan, and the ROK, marking the official start of the forum.

Kim So-young, Former Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission of South Korea