On December 8, China Public Diplomacy Association and the Korea Foundation (KF) co-organized the 8th China-South Korea Public Diplomacy Forum on “Promoting Comprehensive Collaboration and Communication between China and South Korea in the Post-epidemic Era”. China’s Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Public Diplomacy Ambassador of South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chang Jae-Bok attended the opening ceremony and delivered keynote speeches. CPDA President Wu Hailong and KF President Lee Geun delivered speeches respectively. Over 20 guests from China and South Korea, including former Chinese ambassador to South Korea Qiu Guohong, Director-General for Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs of the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seo Eunji, Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Zhang Yunling, Director of the Sungkyun Institute of China Studies Lee Hee-ok, participated in the forum. The guests conducted in-depth discussions on the topics of comprehensive collaboration between China and South Korea in the “Post-epidemic Era”, post-epidemic recovery and development of economy, media communication and youth exchanges, etc.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Qin Gang stated that as neighboring countries, China and South Korea share similar oriental values, and people of the two countries have a long tradition of friendly communication and mutual assistance. This is especially true in the face of the raging epidemic. Looking on to the post-epidemic era, China and South Korea have broad prospects for further developing relations. The two countries should continue to build consensus and eliminate interference and raise China-South Korea relations to a new level, so that the two sides can become good partners for mutual development, for regional peace, for Asian rejuvenation, and for world prosperity. Qin also put forward 3 suggestions of strengthening top-level design, facilitating practical collaboration and enhancing people-to-people bonds on the topic of promoting public diplomacy cooperation between China and South Korea.

Chang Jae-Bok stated that China and South Korea are neighbors of great importance to each other, have a long history of communication, and have made great efforts for the peace and prosperity of Northeast Asia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries showed the world how true friendship is shown in adversity. The fact that collaboration can be conducted even during such a difficult period has deepened the friendship between our two countries. Considering that the COVID-19 epidemic could be a prolonged situation, today’s forum is of an even greater significance. It is hoped that China and South Korea continue to expand the scope of public diplomacy and that the relations of the two countries can usher in a more brilliant tomorrow.

CPDA President Wu Hailong stated that in the 28 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, the two countries have had frequent communications in various fields and at all levels, and have become strategic partners of mutual political trust, economic integration and cultural exchanges. The epidemic is a mirror that reflects the true friendship of helping each other in adversity, and a touchstone that shows how priceless the golden friendship between the two countries is. After this pandemic, it is believed how people of insight from both countries have more profoundly realized that China and South Korea are a community of shared destiny that is moving forward side by side and sharing weal and woe. Hope that all the guests can share their insights on the comprehensive cooperation between China and South Korea in the post-epidemic era.

Lee Geun stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea in 1992, the relations between the two countries have undergone drastic changes in many areas. The two countries have made joint efforts to realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the permanent peace mechanism. In the post-epidemic era, the two sides should further strengthen their ties and maintain a close cooperative relationship. On the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, we should take today’s forum as an opportunity to look forward to the future and promote collaboration, communication and development between the two countries.

After the opening ceremony, three breakout sessions were held in sequence.

On the first breakout session “Starting the comprehensive collaboration and local communication”, the guests stated that to carry out comprehensive collaboration between China and South Korea in the post-epidemic era, the two countries need to strengthen the docking of each other’s development strategies and look for docking points where it is possible for the two sides to deepen cooperation. The two countries should also create a brand-new economic cooperation framework and promote economic cooperation in East Asia with the help of RCEP. The communication between sister cities of the two countries can be used as the foundation of international collaboration in Northeast Asia, while local industrial parks can be used as new grounds for local communications between China and South Korea. Lastly, Online communication has improved the timeliness and expanded the scope of participants, which means that it can become the new normality of international public diplomacy.

On the second breakout session “Promoting Bilateral Economic Growth and Industrial Cooperation”, the guests stated that cooperation in the high-tech industry is a new path for China-South Korea economic cooperation. The two countries should respond to each other’s development concepts in order to strengthen the economic ties between the two sides. Industries with a long business cycle are the new opportunities in China-South Korea economic cooperation, and the two countries should expand their collaboration in the area of service economy. The China-South Korea Cooperation Demonstration Zone has achieved initial results in investment promotion and project construction. Collaboration should be strengthened in the market of high-end products with high added value. China can also learn from South Korea’s experience in its own urbanization process. Lastly, the two countries’ enterprises of cultural products should collaborate to create a more advanced cultural industry.

On the third breakout session “Enhancing Media and Youth Communications”, the guests stated that the East Asian civilization obtains a long history and strong self-confidence. Given the fact that the youths of the two countries have common characteristics, it is necessary to build a bridge for communication for the youths. The two sides can accept more of each other’s international students and organize more cultural exchange activities such as Go games. Media practitioners of the two countries can establish a regular communication mechanism to expand the platform for dialogues, thereby promoting mutual understanding between each other. Culture exchanges and art should be made as a bridge for mutual learning and win-win cooperation. Disharmonious voices between the two countries’ netizens can be resolved through public diplomacy.

After the three breakout sessions, Director-General for Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs of the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seo Eunji and CPDA President Wu Hailong made their concluding remarks respectively. Seo Eunji stated that the China-South Korea Public Diplomacy Forum has been a veritable platform for public diplomacy discussions between the two countries since 2013. We discussed on topics such as communications on the local level, economic development, industrial cooperation, media and youth communication, and have achieved fruitful results. At its essential, public diplomacy can be concluded as people-to-people connections. China and South Korea should review their friendship of the past decade and prepare to strengthen the friendly relationship in the next decade. Therefore, we must maintain a sustainable two-way public diplomatic relationship. It is hoped that this forum can become the “lubricant” for the friendship between the two countries.

President Wu Hailong stated that constructive discussions have been carried out during this forum, where all the participants fully expressed their viewpoints on the development of China-South Korea relations. Both consensuses were reached and suggestions were formed, which indicates that in the post-epidemic era, the China-South Korea relations will be able to radiate new vitality and create a new future. We must further promote the construction of China-South Korea community of shared future to a higher level, deepen cooperation in post-epidemic economic recovery and development, strengthen communication and mutual learning, and enhance cooperation in the field of public diplomacy. Public diplomacy cooperation between the two countries is an important measure in developing the two countries’ substantial strategic partnership, which is of great significance in promoting communications in various fields and deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries. We should support each other in hosting both Beijing Winter Olympics and Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics, constantly intensify communications in various aspects, including media, youth, art and sports with the advantage of easy travelling between the two countries and relevant activities of the China-South Korea Cultural Exchange Year. We must mobilize all positive factors to improve mutual recognition and favorable impression between the two peoples. China is willing to work with South Korea to continuously enrich the connotation and outer form of the China-South Korea Public Diplomacy Forum and strengthen cooperation in the field of public diplomacy, so as to truly promote mutual bonds between the two peoples.

Participants to the forum from the Chinese side include: Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Qin Gang, CPDA President Wu Hailong, former Chinese ambassador to South Korea Qiu Guohong, Member of CASS and Professor of Shandong University Zhang Yunling, Researcher of the National Institute of International Strategy of CASS Dong Xiangrong, Executive Dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China Wang Wen, Director of Construction Office of the China-South Korea Industrial Park (Yancheng) Qu Bin, Deputy Director of Management Committee of the China-South Korea International Cooperation Demonstration Zone (Changchun) Li Rui, Vice President of China Headquarters of the CJ Group Zhang Kejun, Vice President of the Chinese Go Association and world Go champion Chang Hao, Professor of National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts and Chairman of Beijing Meilanfang Art Foundation Zhang Jing, and CGTN Chief Correspondent for Current Affairs and Diplomacy Su Yuting.

Participants for the South Korean side include: Public Diplomacy Ambassador of South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chang Jae-Bok, KF President Lee Geun, Director-General for Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs of the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seo Eunji, Director of the Sungkyun Institute of China Studies Lee