On September 5, 2018, co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) and Korea Foundation(KF), the 23rd China-South Korea Future Forum was held in Weihai, Shandong Province. About 40 delegates from two sides attended the forum. 

The Chinese delegation, headed by Amb. Wu Hailong, President of the CPIFA, includes experts and scholars from major Chinese think tanks and famous universities. The South Korean delegation, headed by Mr. Lee Si Hyung, President of Korea Foundation, includes former South Korean diplomats, scholars, experts and editors from important South Korean think tanks, famous universities, institutes and media.

At the Opening Ceremony, Amb. Wu Hailong and President Lee Si Hyung delivered remarks. The two delegations engaged in in-depth exchange of ideas on two topics of “Make joint efforts in Maintaining the Peace and Security of North-East Asia” and “Strengthen China-South Korea Cooperation to Promote Regional Economic Development under New Situation”.

The South Korean delegation also met with Mr. ZHANG Haibo, Mayor of Weihai, Shandong Province. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and the unique role played by Weihai and Inchon in China-South Korea Free Trade Agreement. 

The China-South Korea Future Forum was first launched in 1994, as an exchange program of the framework of China-South Korea People-to-People Exchanges. It is a bilateral platform of great importance for regular meeting, trust building, exchanges and discussions among think tanks of the two countries in politics, economy and trade, culture and academics. The Forum plays a positive role in promoting friendly cooperation between the two sides.