Chinese Officials to Visit South Korea for Bilateral Discussions

A delegation of local government officials from China is scheduled to visit South Korea this week. The purpose of the visit is to discuss ways to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the local governments of both countries.

The delegation consists of division-level officials from the foreign affairs offices of regions including Beijing, Guangdong, and Jiangxi. They will be in South Korea for five days, during which they will receive briefings on bilateral relations and tour various industrial and cultural facilities.

A key part of their itinerary includes visits to the Saemangeum national industrial complex. This large-scale reclamation project on South Korea's west coast aims to establish a hub for industry, business, and tourism. The project has been a topic of discussion between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping, particularly regarding investment opportunities.

This visit is part of the 2026 Korea-China Future-Oriented Exchange Program, initiated in 1999 to foster relations by inviting Chinese local government officials to South Korea. The South Korean foreign ministry expressed its commitment to continue supporting exchanges and cooperation between the two nations' local governments.