By Kim Eun-jung
BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) — South Korea and China signed a sequence of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on cooperation in industrial exchanges, expertise, the atmosphere and other areas on the event of a summit between Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday, Seoul’s presidential workplace Cheong Wa Dae mentioned.
The 14 MOUs and a separate settlement on the return of Chinese historic artifacts in Korea underscored the joint efforts by Seoul and Beijing to deepen bilateral ties, as Lee pushes for “pragmatic” diplomacy to stably handle relations with China whereas making certain a sturdy safety alliance with the United States.
Among the MOUs was an association on the creation of an everyday dialogue platform between South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and China’s Ministry of Commerce to boost business cooperation between the 2 nations.
(From L to R) South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and South Korean Food and Drug Safety Minister Oh Yu-kyung and Sun Meijun, director normal of China’s General Administration of Customs, attend signing ceremonies for agreements on the institution of a business cooperation dialogue and on meals security cooperation, respectively, with attendance by President Lee Jae Myung (L, rear) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, rear) on the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 5, 2026. (Yonhap)
On the expertise entrance, the 2 sides signed an MOU on cooperation for science and expertise innovation, in addition to a separate MOU on digital expertise collaboration.
They additionally inked MOUs to search out and nurture promising startups and lay the groundwork for shielding mental property (IP) through the use of new applied sciences, and enhancing legislation enforcement in opposition to IP infringements involving imports and exports.
Additional MOUs had been signed on meals security and quarantine procedures for fisheries, animals and vegetation.
In the environmental sector, the 2 nations signed an MOU to carry common ministerial and working-level conferences on points comparable to local weather change — an effort to broaden the scope of bilateral cooperation past the problem of fantastic mud.
An settlement on transportation cooperation contains plans to collaborate on land transport, roads, railways and future mobility, in addition to to arrange a working-level consultative physique.
On the event of Lee’s state go to, a pair of Qing Dynasty stone lion statues that the Kansong Art and Culture Foundation has saved in its assortment since its buy in 1933 can be returned to China. The National Museum of Korea signed a certificates with China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration to formalize the return.
Cheong Wa Dae mentioned the choice to return the Chinese cultural artifacts paves the best way for expanded cultural exchanges between the 2 nations.
President Lee Jae Myung (L) shakes arms with Chinese President Xi Jinping throughout a signing ceremony of memorandums of understanding on the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 5, 2026. (Yonhap)
[email protected]
(END)