Beijing-Seoul cooperation should look to the future

As the global economy faces mounting uncertainty amid geopolitical tensions, supply chain restructuring and the resurgence of protectionism, the importance of stability, resilience and practical cooperation has become increasingly evident. At a time when strategic competition between major powers continues to intensify, countries around the world are recognizing that sustainable growth and regional prosperity cannot be achieved through confrontation alone.

Against this backdrop, China's steady economic development and South Korea's resilience in exports, advanced manufacturing and financial markets deserve close attention.

The recent meeting between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng sent a positive signal that both countries are prepared to expand cooperation in the fields of economy, industry and people-to-people exchanges. This should be regarded as a meaningful indication of a renewed commitment to pragmatic cooperation.

China and South Korea are not merely important trading partners. They are also key stakeholders in the peace, stability and future prosperity of Northeast Asia.

Over the past several decades, the two countries have achieved remarkable development through close economic cooperation. China has long been South Korea's largest trading partner, while South Korea has contributed significantly to China's industrial upgrading and technological advancement.

Although competition naturally exists between the industrial sectors of both countries, the overall relationship remains characterized by a high degree of complementarity.

Areas such as semiconductors, batteries, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and the digital economy provide vast opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. As both countries pursue innovation-driven growth strategies, new possibilities for industrial and technological collaboration continue to emerge.

More important, the realities of today's global economy demonstrate that sustainable development cannot be achieved through zero-sum approaches. Global supply chains are deeply interconnected, and economic instability in one country inevitably affects neighboring economies and the wider international community. In this regard, China-South Korea economic cooperation is not simply a bilateral matter; it is closely linked to the stability and prosperity of Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole.

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that China is actively pursuing high-quality development centered on technological innovation, while South Korea is strengthening its competitiveness in cutting-edge industries and future technologies. These parallel efforts create valuable opportunities for cooperation.

In practical terms, bilateral cooperation should increasingly focus on joint research and development, investment in future industries, green transformation, digital collaboration and talent exchanges.

The recovery and expansion of people-to-people exchanges is equally important. Economic cooperation cannot be sustained solely through agreements between governments. Long-term stability in bilateral relations depends on active engagement among business leaders, young people, academic communities and cultural sectors.

Naturally, China-South Korea relations still face various challenges. Changes in the international environment, security concerns and intensified competition in certain industries may continue to create pressure on bilateral ties. However, what matters most is how those differences are managed and how areas of common interest can continue to expand.

Today, the Asia-Pacific region stands at the center of global economic growth. The future prosperity of the region is closely linked to the quality of cooperation among its major economies.

From this perspective, China and South Korea should look beyond a bilateral framework and pursue cooperation from the broader standpoint of regional prosperity and global stability.

Now is the time for the two nations to elevate their relationship into a more resilient, forward-looking and mutually beneficial partnership.

The author is chairman of the Korea-China Global Association in Seoul.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.