Japanese business leaders pledge to support Busan's Expo bid

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Sun, October 1, 2023 | 00:46

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Japanese business leaders pledge to support Busan's Expo bid

Posted : 2023-06-09 16:27

Updated : 2023-06-11 15:41

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Chey Tae-won, right, gives a speech during the chairmen's meeting between the KCCI and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) at Signel Busan hotel, Friday. The meeting marked the first gathering between the two business chambers in six years. Courtesy of KCCI

Chairmen of KCCI, JCCI meet for 1st time in 6 years amid thawed bilateral ties

By Yi Whan-woo

Business chambers of Korea and Japan have agreed to cooperate to support Korea's bid to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan, according to officials, Friday. They also pledged to work closely for the successful hosting of the upcoming World Expo 2025 to be held in Osaka.

The joint announcement on mutual cooperation for the expos was reached during a meeting in Busan between the chairmen of the two sides ― Chey Tae-won of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Ken Kobayashi of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).

It marked the first gathering of the leaders of the two business chambers in six years, as they push to accelerate business dialogue in tandem with thawing bilateral government relations.

The chairmen were accompanied by top executives of their respective chambers.

Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Chairman Ken Kobayashi, second from left, delivers a speech as Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Chey Tae-won, left, listens during the KCCI-JCCI chairmen's meeting at Signel Busan hotel, Friday. Courtesy of KCCI

"The Korea-Japan ties face a significant moment and that the private sector should aggressively keep up with such development to enhance economic cooperation," Chey said as he welcomed the Japanese delegation at Signel Busan hotel.

The KCCI chief was referring to the first summit in 12 years between leaders of the two nations in March and the successive restoration in dialogue channels across the ministries thereafter.

"Taking such background into account, today's meeting should be understood as an extended effort to restore bilateral cooperation," he said.

Also, the SK Group chairman and co-chair of World Expo 2030 Busan Bid Committee, Chey underlined that the expo bid is on the priority list of this year's KCCI projects.

"Correspondingly, I would say Busan's expo bid is related to the country's broader efforts to cope with global issues, and in this sense, Korea will cooperate on World Expo 2025 in Japan," he added.

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Chey Tae-won is on crutches as he arrives with Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Chairman Ken Kobayashi, on Chey's left, for the KCCI-JCCI chairmen's meeting Signel Busan hotel, Friday. Chey's left Achilles tendon was ruptured while playing tennis earlier this week. Yonhap

Also Mitsubishi Corp.'s corporate advisor, Kobayashi said he is pleased to resume the chairmen's meeting for the first time in six years.

He underlined that the industries of the two countries are "reciprocal and complimentary" and that the bilateral economic circles are of an "inseparable level."

The JCCI chairman pointed out Korea is ranked top in terms of foreign tourist arrivals to Japan so far this year, and expressed hope it can "help widen exchanges concerning World Expo 2025 Osaka as well as Busan's World Expo 2030 bid."

"I, furthermore, wish from the bottom of my heart that such exchanges will expand to sister cities of the two countries, as well as culture, education and all possible areas," he said.

Friday's gathering included presentations and discussions on possible measures to overcome challenges jointly faced by the two countries.

Among the issues addressed were population decline due to low birthrates and aging societies, re-planning of supply chains, carbon-neutrality, artificial intelligence (AI), digitalization and support for startups.

The two business chambers are planning to hold the next chairmen's meeting in Osaka in 2024.

yistory@koreatimes.co.kr