written by Wang Gongqing / translated by Ma Jinyu

“Korean Wave” Hit in the CAEXPO

written by Wang Gongqing / translated by Ma Jinyu

The world economy has entered into a deep adjustment phase of the postfinancial crisis era, and regional economic integration has become the power source to maintain the long-term and robust growth in Asia-Pacific region. In 2013, the negotiation on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was launched by China, ASEAN, Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and India. In order to further enhance the cooperation between China and countries outside the ASEAN region, the CAEXPO will invite a RCEP member state other than the ASEAN countries to be the special guest country each year from 2014 onward. And Korea is selected as the special guest country of the 12th CAEXPO.

The CAEXPO serves as a platform for China and ASEAN and opens up to the rest of the world. Facing China across the Yellow Sea in its west, Korea, one of the members of the RCEP, is an important economy in Asia.

Korea will be the special guest country of the 12th CAEXPO of 2015. The CAEXPO will be extended to serve “10+6”. As more countries outside China-ASEAN region participate in the CAEXPO, it is believed that China, ASEAN and RCEP’s member states will work closer and build a better future.

Old Friends, New Interaction

Korea pays high attention to the CAEXPO. It hasactively participated in the CAEXPO in recent years. There have been a total number of 335 Korean business guests and 46 enterprises with 66 booths applied in all previous 11 CAEXPOs.The launching ceremony of folk trade exchange center between China and Korea (preparation) cum the display & promotion of products was held during the 11th CAEXPO. Korean pop-star group, singer and actress who are favored by Chinese fans performed and gave interview in the press conference of “the launching ceremony of folk trade exchange center between China and Korea (preparation)”, achieving concrete results.

During the CAEXPO both in 2012 and 2013, “Korea-China Biz Plaza”conducted promotion activities to enhance bilateral economic and trade exchanges. Chungcheongbuk-do of Korea hosted the biz plaza and focused on introducing their culture, tourism, industries, specialty goods, development and investment situation, invited enterprises who attended the CAEXPO to seize the opportunity and invest in Chungcheongbuk-do.

● On September 16, 2014, Kim Hyun?chul, First Secretary of Commerce, Embassy of South Korea in China, received the interview with media.

Located in the middle of Korea, Chungcheong-do has elegant natural scenery. It develops well and abounds with ginseng, grape, rice, tobacco, a variety of herbs and horticultural crops. Early in 2007, it concluded friendly relations with Guangxi. Korea sent delegations to the CAEXPO every year since 2008 to look for business opportunities that help enterprises develop and improve people's living of two sides. Products from Chungcheong-do such as food, liquor, pharmaceutical, household goods were promoted during the CAEXPO, which offers China, the ten ASEAN countries as well as members of the RCEP a new platform to know about Korean enterprises and products. This shows that the investment and promotion activities in CAEXPO are not only for China and ASEAN countries, but for Asia and the world. With huge market potential, costumes from Doota of Korea are popular in China and ASEAN countries. The exchanges and cooperation between China and ASEAN, China and Korea as well as ASEAN and Korea have been increasing.

Cooperation Goes in Depth

Various Korean products and TV dramas are well received by Chinese and ASEAN people, growing the influence of “Korean Wave”. Korean TV dramas “You Who Came from the Stars” and “Pinocchio” lured the eyes of fans. Korean variety shows like “Dad, Where Are We Going”,“Running Man” and “We Got Married”have also attracted a batch of fans. Many Korean TV dramas like “Full House” have also been reproduced in China and ASEAN countries. Some Chinese dramas, such as “Fated to Love You” gained praise and were made into Korean version as well.

The CAEXPO has been held successfully for 11 years, which sets up an important exchange and cooperation platform for global enterprises from China, ASEAN and Korea etc. It is reported that Korea, as the special guest country of the 12th CAEXPO, will send its delegation, hold a series of Korea-themed activities, attend high-level business negotiations, specialized symposiums and economic and trade promotion activities and display its building materials, new technologies, cosmetics, glass products and household appliances and so on during the expo, so as to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China-ASEAN commercial circle. The involvement of Korea will make the 12th CAEXPO more excellent!