Seoul City Expands Bioeconomic Cooperation with Chongqing City... Promotes Talent and Business Exchange

Oh Se-hoon Visits 'Chongqing Dadi Life Science Park' to Devise Bio Strategy
Signs MOU Between 'Seoul Bio Hub' and 'Yanggang Life Science City'
Meets Hu Henghua, Chongqing Mayor, to Discuss Activation of Diplomacy in Culture and Tourism

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Chongqing City in China have signed a business agreement to discover innovative companies in the bio sector and expand exchanges between companies. Chongqing is one of the four direct-controlled municipalities in China and signed a friendship agreement with Seoul in May 2019. Recently, it has been emerging prominently in the advanced industry sector and has steadily increased trade volume, establishing itself as a key hub for entering the Chinese market.

According to Seoul City on the 30th, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the 'Chongqing Dadie Life Science Park,' one of China's five major pharmaceutical bases, on the 29th (local time). He inspected the Yangtze River Life Science and Technology City exhibition hall and bio companies located within the complex, initiating plans for the development strategy of Seoul's future core industry, the bio sector.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon met with Hu Henghua, Mayor of Chongqing, on the 29th (local time) to discuss ways to strengthen solidarity for revitalizing urban diplomacy in culture and tourism, as well as expanding economic and industrial cooperation.
[Photo by Seoul City]

The 'Chongqing Dadie Life Science Park' is a 600,000㎡ cluster being developed since 2011 to promote a Healthy China strategy. Currently, about 150 bio-sector companies are located there, and upon completion (1,000,000㎡), more than 250 companies will conduct research activities in this area. Mayor Oh listened to Chongqing's bio-industry development plans with Luo Lin, Party Secretary of the Yangtze River New Area, and reviewed technologies related to biopharmaceuticals and advanced medical devices.

In particular, a business agreement was signed to strengthen bio-industry cooperation between the two cities' institutions, 'Seoul Bio Hub' and 'Yangtze River Life Science and Technology City.' 'Seoul Bio Hub' is a flagship facility fostering the bio industry in Seoul. Starting with the Industry Support Building in 2017, the Research Laboratory Building and Regional Open Building were subsequently opened, and in April, a Global Center was launched to support overseas expansion of startups in the bio and medical fields. The 'Chongqing Yangtze River New Area Development and Investment Group,' which operates 'Yangtze River Life Science and Technology City,' is a state-owned enterprise with capital of about 2 trillion KRW, providing various advanced industry research including life sciences and biotechnology projects, urban infrastructure construction, urban function development and services, as well as urban operation and management services.

Through this agreement, the two institutions pledged mutual cooperation to discover innovative companies in the bio sector, promote exchanges between companies, and expand research and development. Mayor Oh, who attended the signing ceremony, said, "Seoul is a city with sufficient potential for bio-industry development, ranking first worldwide in hospitals, new drug development, and clinical trials," adding, "I hope the two institutions can continue practical cooperation and contribute to revitalizing the bio ecosystem and exchanges between companies of both countries."

A meeting with the Mayor of Chongqing City, marking the fifth year of friendly cooperation, was also arranged. Mayor Oh met with Chongqing Mayor Hu Henghua to discuss solidarity measures to activate urban diplomacy such as culture and tourism, and to expand economic and industrial cooperation. Mayor Hu Henghua, who took office in 2022 after serving as vice mayor and acting mayor, was a key figure in growing Chongqing into a city with a GDP of 3 trillion yuan. He was selected as one of Hunan Province's top 10 businesspeople in 2003, based on achievements such as tripling corporate profits while working as general manager of a limited company in Hunan Province in 1999.

At this meeting, Mayor Oh requested a visit to the ICT exhibition 'The 1st Seoul Smart Life Week (SLW)' to be held in Seoul this October and asked for many innovative companies from Chongqing to share their technological capabilities. Mayor Hu Henghua responded positively, suggesting they find ways to further support the development of advanced technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence).

Additionally, Mayor Oh visited the 18th Traditional Style District and Hogwang Hall, which have been reborn as local tourist attractions through preservation and restoration of traditional cultural areas, seeking ways to maximize Seoul's urban characteristics and traditional charm. He also inspected night view spots such as Hongyadong, a military fortress on the cliff near Changjiang Station in Chongqing, as well as Qianshimen, Dongshuimen Bridge, and Chongqing Grand Theatre, confirming cases where waterfront spaces have been developed into tourism resources.

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