On July 2, 2024, the 11thChina-ROKPolicySymposium, themed“China-ROK Cooperation in an Unstable World, was held at Peking University. The event was co-organized by the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding (iGCU) of Peking University and the US-China Policy Institute of Ajou University.
The relationship between China andtheROK serves as a crucial foundation for maintaining regional stability and peace, significantly influencing the security and prosperity of both Northeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.AtthisSymposium, over 20 experts, scholars, former government officials, and business leaders from both countries came together to delve into the theme of“China-ROK Cooperation in an Unstable World”, sharing their thoughts ontoday’scomplex and rapidlyevolvingglobal landscape,anddiscussingfeasibleways for China and ROK to enhance mutual trust andstrengthencooperation in thefuture.
Opening Ceremony
Prof. Wang Dong(Executive Director of iGCU;ProfessoroftheSchool ofInternationalStudies, PKU) andDr. Kim Heung-kyu(Director of US-China Policy Institute at Ajou University;President of Project Plaza) delivered opening remarksat theceremony.Prof. Jia Qingguo(Director of iGCU;Professor attheSIS, PKU) andDr. Hyun Oh-seok(FormerFirst Deputy Prime MinisterofROK;Former President of Korea Development Institute;Chairman of the Advisory Board of Plaza Project) delivered speechesas representatives ofthe ChineseandKorean participants.
In his remarks,Prof. Wang Donghighlighted the critical role of academic dialogue in strengthening the relationship betweenChina and the ROK.He stressedthat, in the face ofthe unstable global ordertoday,the significance of China-ROKcooperationbecomesmoreevident.Reflectingon theachievements of previousChina-ROKPolicySymposia,Dr. Kim Heung-kyupointed outthat although the relationship between the two countries hasits ups and downs, scholars from both sides havemaintainedregulardialoguesand exchanges,makingsignificantcontributionstoimprovingand stabilizingthebilateral relations.
Prof. Jia Qingguoindicated in his speech thattheinternationalsituation at present remain highly uncertain,events like the U.S. presidential election and European elections wouldprofoundlyimpactthe global order. Specifically, the outcome of the2024U.S. presidential election wouldsignificantlyaffectChina-U.S.relations, whichmight furtheraffect China-ROK relations andthe situation on the Korean Peninsula. Prof.JiaunderscoredthatChina and ROKshouldwork together toproperlymanage differences and conflicts,promote effectivecommunication and consultation, and contribute to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
Dr. Hyun Oh-seokemphasized the importance of strengthening China-ROK cooperation considering current global economic challenges. He pointed out that countriesworldwidevalueeconomic security,and areadopting neweconomicpolicies tocope withthe changing international environment. In response to these global economic security challenges,Dr.Hyun stressed that,on the basis of mutual respect andshared benefits,the two countriesshouldenhance communication and collaboration,facilitatingthe development ofthestrategic partnershipina healthierdirection.Strengthening mutual trust, he noted, will lay a solid foundation forthesustainable developmentof the bilateral ties.
Session I: Analyzingthe Current International Economic Situation
The first session of theSymposium, titled“Analyzingthe Current International Economic Situation,”was moderated byProf. Wang Dong. Presentations were given byDr. Lee Sang-hyun(Former President of the Sejong Institute), and Prof.Wang Yizhou(Boya Distinguished Professor at PKU).GeneralJung Hae-il(Former President of the Korea National Defense University;Vice Chair of the Plaza Project), andDr. Qi Haotian (Assistant Professor attheSIS, PKU;Secretary-General of iGCU)spoke at the discussion session.
Dr. Lee Sang-hyunnoted three major trends in the current internationalsituation. First, the fragmentation of the international order, marked by intense geopolitical competition and a lack of global governance. Second, the accelerateddivisionofthe worldintoblocs, leading to supply chain disruptions in the context of globalization. Third, theincreasedlikelihood ofthe outburst ofunexpected crises. Hestated that thekey problemin thecurrentinternational order isthe escalating systemic conflict between theGlobal West and East, withdifferent parties’ powercompetitionin the Global Southintensifying.Dr. LeesuggestedthatChina and the ROKshouldenhancecooperation andcommunicationto effectivelymanagerisks and conflicts.
In hispresentation,Prof. Wang Yizhouintroduced the concept of“creativeinvolvement,”stating that the global economy is currently in a phase of creative destruction. While the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have deepenedpeople’spessimismover the global economy,new opportunities for business and technologyare alsoemerging.Heargued that the restructuring and fragmentation of great power relations are giving rise to new global structures, butthe emergence of a new“Cold War”is not inevitable.He further calledfor constructive engagement in regional and global affairs to avoid further escalation of conflictsandactiveexplorations ofmechanisms for multilateral dialogueto promote peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
Inthe discussionsession, the participating experts engaged in a deep exchange ofthoughts. GeneralJung Hae-ilanalyzed the military implications of the DPRK-Russia alliance on the Korean Peninsula, stressing the importance of strengthening the military dialogue mechanism between ROK and China to prevent further escalation of tensions.Dr.Qi Haotiandiscussed the prospects for nuclear posture and regional security cooperation from the perspective of the interplay between technological change and geopolitical dynamics. Heelaborated onthe possibility of new multilateral consultation mechanismsandfurtheremphasized the importance, challenges, and feasible solutions for managing differences and enhancing mutual trust.
Session II: Economic SecurityofChina, Japan, and ROK
The second session of theSymposium, titled“Economic SecurityofChina, Japan, and South Korea,”was moderated byDr. Hyun Oh-seok.Prof. Wang Yong(Director of the Center for American Studies;Professor atSIS, PKU) andProf. Lee Wang-hui(Professor at Ajou University;Board Member of the Plaza Project)deliveredpresentations. The discussion also included contributions fromProf. Li Tingting(Associate Professor and Chair of the Korean Language Department atthe School of Foreign Languages, PKU), andDr.Choi Chan-kyeong(Former International Cooperation Officer of the Korean National Assembly;Associate Director of GR Korea Ltd.).
Prof. Wang Yongreflected on theevolution ofChina-ROK relations over the three years of the pandemic, emphasizing theimportance of economic security for both countries. He noted that while globalization has driven economic growth, it has also widened thegapbetween rich and poor, fueling the rise of populism and presenting new challenges to China-ROK relations. HestressedthatChinahas alwaysadvocatedforresolvingglobal economic competition and differencesof intereststhrough mutuallybeneficialand win-win cooperation,contributingtomaintainingofthe stability of global supply chains.
Prof. Lee Wang-huianalyzed thechangesin the currentglobal economic landscape, highlighting that theChina-U.S.trade war and the rise of protectionism have led tothefragmentation of the global economy. HeindicatedtheROK’sdelicate positionamidU.S.competition withChina.Although the ROK is closer to the U.S.politically, it stillmaintainsdeep economicconnectionswith China. Despite political and diplomatic challenges, Prof. Lee emphasized thenecessityof trilateral economic cooperationbetweenChina, Japan, and ROK, calling for joint efforts to navigateexistingcomplexities.
During the discussionsession,Prof. Li Tingtingargued that the U.S.-led discourse on economic security is driven byits owndomestic concerns andadesire tosustain global hegemony. She noted that both China and ROK, as major beneficiaries of the international free trade system, have suffered significant losses.Prof. Li also suggested thatwith the U.S.-ROKcooperationinadvancedmilitary technologies strengthening,the ROK should be cautious about theU.S.technology binding of ROK’scivilian economy.Dr.Choi Chan-kyeongpointed out that the U.S. economic security policies in key technology sectors like semiconductors and batteries,aim tosustainits economic dominance by preservingitstechnological superiority. ShereckonsthatChina,Japan, and ROK shoulddevelop their own economic security strategies in response tothe U.S. strategies ofrestraining China,while also seeking opportunities for cooperation where possible.
Session III: The Future of China-ROK Relation
The third session of theSymposium, titled “The Future of China-ROK Relation”, was moderated byProf. Zhang Xiaoming(Professor at SIS, PKU) andDr. Kim Heung-kyu.Prof. Lee Dong-min(Professor at Dankook University),andDr. Wang Junsheng(Research FellowofNational Institute of International Strategy at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)delivered presentations.Mr.Lee Byung-chul(Former Senior Vice President for Greater China at Samsung Group)joined the discussion session.
Prof. Lee Dong-minanalyzedthe currentstateand prospectof China-ROK relationsfrom a micro-perspective. He noted thatsince the establishment ofdiplomatic ties in 1992,Chinaand the ROKhave made significant progress in economic and security cooperation. However, in recent years, various factors have posed challenges to theirbilateral ties. Prof. Lee emphasized the substantial potential for cooperation between China and ROK in enhancing industrial supply chains and securing their respective comparative advantages. He argued that China’s economic rise benefits ROK, andoncethisconceptioniswidely accepted, it could lead to positive adjustments in ROK’s foreign policy.
Dr. Wang Junshenganalyzed the impact of thecurrentcomplexworld orderon China-ROK relations from the perspective oftheNortheast Asia’s regional situation. Henotedthatthechanges in U.S. policy on the Korean Peninsula haveresulted inthe risingnucleartensions in the regionandintensifyingarms race.Facingcommonsecurity threats, Dr. Wang called for increased interactionsbetween the governments and think tanks of both countries, advocating for the promotion of bilateral and multilateral dialogue mechanismswhich couldcontributetothedenuclearization and regional stability.
Additionally,Mr.Lee Byung-chulsharedhisinsights from a corporate perspective,discussingthe challenges and opportunities in China-ROK economic cooperation. He highlighted that despite geopolitical pressures,vastpotential for collaborationexistsbetween the two countries in areasuch as the digital economy and green economy.
Concluding Remarks
Prof. Wang DongandDr. Kim Heung-kyudelivered the closing remarks on behalf of the Chinese and Koreanparticipants, respectively.
Prof. Wang Dongindicated thatalthoughsomepeoplestillholdpessimistic view towardthe development of China-ROKties,optimistic voicesshould not be neglected.Prof. Wangadvocated for approaching thebilateralrelationship with“realistic idealism”or“idealistic realism”, andsuggestedthatChina-ROK relations may face new challenges as time progresses,butas long asboth sidesstaypassionateandkeep the faith,challenges can be transformed into new opportunities.Dr. Kim Heung-kyucalled for the cultivation of the next generation of China-ROK relations experts to ensure the sustainable development of bilateral ties. Hestated that political and economic cooperation between the two countries can be achieved through mutual understanding and communication.Both Prof. Wang andDr. Kimexpressed their hopethat theChina-ROKPolicySymposiumwouldcontinue toserve as an important platform for promoting further exchangesand cooperation between the two nations,injectingnewmomentum into the development of bilateral relations and contributing to peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
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