Korea’s Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong attended the 57th Korea-Japan Business Conference today in Seoul, co-organized by Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Korea-Japan Economic Association, Japan-Korea Economic Association, and the Japan-Korea Industrial Technology Co-Operation Foundation in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the two countries’ normalization of diplomatic relations.

Since launched in January 1969 following the normalization of relations in 1965, the Korea-Japan Business Conference has served as a major platform for bilateral consultation in advancing the two countries’ economic cooperation.

In his congratulatory message, Trade Minister Cheong expressed gratitude to both countries’ business leaders for their commitment to economic cooperation over the past 60 years and proposed that the two countries’ governments and business leaders work together in setting new milestones to open a new chapter of cooperation for the next 60 years.

Noting the increase of global trade uncertainties, Trade Minister Cheong stated that joint efforts will be made for trade collaboration through close intergovernmental communication, while also providing strong support towards expanding the scope of bilateral economic cooperation in supply chain stabilization, transition to carbon-free and new energy sources, as well as joint entry into Global South and other third countries. Moreover, he asked that the business leaders actively leverage Korea and Japan’s hosting of international events like APEC 2025 and the Osaka-Kansai World Expo.

In accordance with this year’s conference theme of broader and deeper Korea-Japan cooperation, the two countries’ economic groups discussed joint measures in establishing and building trust, enhancing economic partnerships in carbon neutrality, AI, semiconductors, bio, and supply chains, utilizing the FTA network, and boosting people-to-people exchanges. They also agreed to further cooperation in these areas going forward.