1. The fourth Republic of Korea-China forum on public diplomacy took place in Yangzhou, China, on November 28, co-hosted by the Foreign Ministries of the two countries with the support of the Korea Foundation and the China Public Diplomacy Association.

2. The event brought together some 200 people, including Ambassador for Public Diplomacy Cho Hyun-dong and Assistant Foreign Minister Qian Hongshan, President Lee Si-hyung of the Korea Foundation, Vice President Lv Fengding of the China Public Diplomacy Association, relevant experts from the academias, businesses, media outlets and various other sectors of the two countries as well as ordinary citizens.

3. At the forum themed “increasing exchanges and enhancing mutual trust,” the experts from various sectors of the two countries engaged in a candid exchange of views on cultural inheritance and responsibility; ways for the ROK and China to step up economic and trade cooperation and meet new challenges posed to Asia; and mutually complementary cultural industries and cultural innovation.

4. On the sidelines of the forum, Ambassador Cho met bilaterally with Assistant Foreign Minister Qian Hongshan for a candid exchange of views on various issues, including ways for their two countries to work together on public diplomacy and the North Korean nuclear issue as well as to increase cultural exchanges and cooperation.

° The Ambassador mentioned that the two countries, which are facing the North Korean nuclear issue and various other challenges, will see their bilateral relations further enhanced in the course of working together to overcome such challenges.

° The Ambassador, relaying the ROK’s concern over the recently reported China’s so-called “ban on Hallyu, stressed that the ROK and China, which will mark their 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2017, should, under any circumstances, continue and boost cultural exchanges and cooperation, the basis of their relations.

° Assistant Minister Qian Hongshan, sharing the Ambassador’s view, expressed hope that public diplomacy will play a role in efforts to advance the ties between the two countries set to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2017.

5. Amid the growing need for closer communication between the ROK and China at various levels, it carried great significance that the forum took place in Yangzhou, the home to the Choi Chi-won Memorial Hall, which symbolizes thousand-year-long friendship between the two countries, and a meeting was held between the ranking officials of their Foreign Ministries.

6. The ROK-China forum on public diplomacy was established to raise understanding and awareness between the peoples of the two countries, as agreed by the Presidents of the two countries at their summit talks in June 2013. Held on an annual basis, the forum is developing into a solid channel for cooperation on public diplomacy.


* unofficial translation