'Met with Chinese Vice Premier of Economy' Kim Dong-yeon: "I will strive for the development of Korea-China relations"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (left) is warmly shaking hands with He Lifeng, Vice Premier of the State Council of China in charge of economic affairs, on the 2nd.

Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, currently visiting China, met with He Lifeng (何立峰), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier in charge of economic affairs of the State Council of China, on the 2nd at the reception room of the Office of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission in Beijing to discuss "the development of Korea-China relations and ways to strengthen practical cooperation between Gyeonggi Province and China."

The meeting, which lasted about 1 hour and 30 minutes, exceeding the originally scheduled time by 30 minutes, saw the two share opinions on the role Gyeonggi Province can play to enhance Korea-China economic cooperation, bilateral economic cooperation measures, and global economic trends.

Governor Kim said, "We met again after 5 years and 9 months. When Vice Premier He was in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission and I was Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, we held the Korea-China Economic Ministerial Meeting. It was a meaningful occasion to restore Korea-China relations that had been interrupted for nearly two years." He added, "Although our positions have changed, I am confident that today's meeting will create a good opportunity for Korea-China relations, just as we created a turning point to restore difficult relations back then."

He continued, "The more difficult Korea-China relations become, the more we need to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between local governments. Gyeonggi Province is the largest province in South Korea and the center of the entire country's economy and industry. We will take a more active role in strengthening Korea-China relations."

He also shared news of visiting Liaoning Province to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their sisterhood relationship, saying, "Just as we created a good opportunity with Liaoning Province, I hope Gyeonggi Province, together with Vice Premier He Lifeng, will pioneer economic cooperation relations between Chinese local governments, and further between China and Gyeonggi Province, and between China and South Korea."

Vice Premier He Lifeng expressed his pleasure, saying, "We held the 15th Korea-China Economic Ministerial Meeting together 5 years ago, and time has passed quickly. Although we have all left our previous positions and started working in new roles, we have met again because of our connection."

He explained, "China and South Korea have maintained cooperative relations economically and have been moving forward overcoming difficulties. Although we have faced many unpredictable events over the past five years, the two countries continue to cooperate in economic and trade relations and move forward together."

Furthermore, he said, "I hope Gyeonggi Province, the center of South Korea's economy and industry, will play a significant role in strengthening economic cooperation with Chinese local governments and in the development of Korea-China relations. The Chinese State Council will also actively support this."

Vice Premier He Lifeng is the highest-ranking official coordinating China’s economic and financial policies, recently appointed as the director of the Office of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission of the Communist Party.

He Lifeng previously held talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during her visit to China in July and agreed to strengthen financial cooperation on 25 items with German Finance Minister Christian Lindner at the 3rd China-Germany High-Level Financial Dialogue held in Frankfurt on October 1. He is known as a key economic aide to Chinese President Xi Jinping and is considered a figure who will have a significant impact on future Korea-China economic cooperation.

Considering that in Chinese diplomatic practice meetings are usually arranged only between officials of the same rank or position, this meeting is highly unusual. It is believed that the personal relationship between Governor Kim and Vice Premier He, along with Gyeonggi Province’s development potential, collectively contributed to making this meeting possible.

Governor Kim accompanied President Moon Jae-in on his visit to China in December 2017 as Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and met with heads of China’s three major economic ministries, including the Ministry of Finance. Vice Premier He Lifeng, then director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s main economic planning agency, had established a connection with Governor Kim by agreeing to hold Korea-China Economic Ministerial Meetings to restore and develop economic cooperation.

They met again at the 15th Korea-China Economic Ministerial Meeting held in Beijing in February 2018, agreeing to improve conditions for mutual business and financial institutions, activate industrial, investment, and tourism exchanges, and restore government-to-government exchange and cooperation channels. During his visit in February 2018, Governor Kim became the first sitting South Korean Deputy Prime Minister to give a lecture at the NDRC on the topic of "Paradigm Shift of the Korean Economy," continuing his relationship with Vice Premier He.

Governor Kim will conclude his 5-day, 4-night visit to China with the meeting with Vice Premier He and return to Korea on the 3rd.

During his visit to China, Governor Kim co-hosted a tourism cooperation exchange meeting in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, and engaged in activities to attract tourists. He also held the 30th anniversary ceremony of the sisterhood relationship with Liaoning Province, signing a joint declaration to strengthen comprehensive cooperation in economic, tourism, cultural, and human exchanges, thereby enhancing exchange and cooperation at the metropolitan local government level. Additionally, he met with representatives of Korean companies operating in China to listen to their difficulties and discuss ways to strengthen Korea-China economic cooperation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.