The 23rd Pan-Yellow Sea Rim Economic and Technology Exchange Conference, co-hosted by Korea (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, Minister Kim Jung-kwan), China (Ministry of Commerce), and Japan (Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry), was held in Daejeon from November 18 to 20. The three countries have alternated hosting the conference since its launch in 2001. At the 13th Korea–Japan–China Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting (March 2025, Seoul), the ministries agreed to actively support the conference as a platform for promoting business and technology exchanges among the three countries.
The conference brought together over 300 participants from the three countries’ central and local governments, industries, and economic organizations. Delegates included Lee Jae-keun, Director General for New Trade Strategy and Policy at MOTIR; Wang Liping, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs of China’s Ministry of Commerce; and Hoshino Mitsuaki, Director General of Japan’s Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, as well as Park Young-kyu, Ambassador for International Relations of Daejeon Metropolitan City, the host region.
Under the overarching theme of “Growth and Development of the Pan-Yellow Sea Rim Economic Zone,” participants shared recent cooperation outcomes and policy directions in specific fields—including bioindustry and healthcare, science and technology, and business exchange—and discussed future cooperation opportunities. The three countries also reached consensus on the need to build an innovation ecosystem in the region and enhance practical integration of industrial and technological cooperation.
Given the strong participation of regional business leaders this year, the conference also offered a separate economic cooperation program to facilitate practical collaboration. During the Business Consultation Session on November 20, about 200 meetings took place between Korean–Chinese and Korean–Japanese companies, generating tangible outcomes in overseas expansion and investment leads.
In addition to the trilateral agenda, Korea also held bilateral cooperation programs with China and Japan. Korea and China convened the Third-Country Joint Entry Forum on November 20 to explore cooperation and joint entry strategies for third-country markets, and to share experiences and information on overseas expansion. Korea and Japan (Kyushu) held the Korea–Kyushu Economic Exchange Conference 2025 on November 18 to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization, discussing cooperation in key supply-chain industries where the two sides are closely linked, including semiconductors and automobiles. The Korea–Japan Economic Association and the Kyushu Economic Federation—the lead organizations for bilateral economic cooperation—also issued a joint statement committing to promote exchanges among regions, institutions, and companies; address shared challenges such as future industries, low birthrates, and regional depopulation; and expand people-to-people exchanges.
Separately, MOTIR (Director General Lee Jae-keun) held a trilateral director general meeting with China and Japan to discuss ways to boost trade and investment, promote cooperation in advanced industries such as ICT and biotechnology, and facilitate joint entry into third-country markets. Korea also held bilateral meetings with the Chinese and Japanese delegations to address trade issues and other matters of mutual interest.