China suspected of hampering Busan's World Expo bid

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Business

Wed, September 27, 2023 | 23:33

Companies

China suspected of hampering Busan's World Expo bid

Posted : 2023-05-14 16:54

Updated : 2023-05-15 16:42

Banners hang along the street near Haeundae Beach in Busan to promote the city's bid to host the World Expo 2030 in this April 4 file photo. Yonhap

By Park Jae-hyuk

Concerns have been raised among Korean businesspeople, as China is said to be trying to thwart their ongoing efforts to win international support for Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030, according to industry officials, Sunday.

The world's second-largest economy has reportedly been asking developing countries to vote for the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh at November's meeting of 171 members of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris, when the host city for the global event will be selected.

"We've heard that some countries are in a dilemma over supporting Korea's bid to host the World Expo in 2030 as they face pressure from a particular nation not to do so," an industry official said on condition of anonymity. "They are all known to be economically dependent on that particular nation. As far as I know, the government has identified it as China."

Although Beijing is one of the well-known supporters of the oil-rich Middle Eastern country, there had been no signs until earlier this year of the Chinese government hampering Korea's bid to host the World Expo.

Its recent move has been therefore interpreted as part of retaliatory measures against Korea strengthening its ties with the U.S. and Japan, while moving away from China and Russia.

"This will be a serious problem, if China is actually trying to hinder Busan's bid," another industry official said on condition of anonymity.

Korean businesspeople have been traveling around the world to convince the BIE member nations to pick Busan. In particular, they have suggested economic cooperation with developing countries in Latin America, the Pacific Ocean and Africa, given that the countries there get one vote each.

However, most of those countries have depended heavily on China for their economic development.

Considering the fact that Korean companies have also relied on their exports to China, businesspeople here also remain reluctant speak out against Beijing's apparent move to interfere with Busan's efforts.

Instead, they have continued trying to convince developing countries to support Busan.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin and Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Cho Seung-hwan have also visited the Latin American countries and the Pacific islands recently to promote Busan's World Expo bid.

In addition, government officials and businesspeople here will showcase Korea's competitiveness once again during the fourth round of presentations to be held in Paris next month.

pjh@koreatimes.co.kr