S.Korea govt to expand business co-op with China: President

    

The 8th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) kicked off here Monday to enhance economic cooperation and understanding among business communities worldwide.

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- The 8th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) kicked off here Monday to enhance economic cooperation and understanding among business communities worldwide.

    South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun attended the opening ceremony of the conference, which attracts more than 2,500 Chinese busniesspeople from 30 countries and regions as well as 800-plus South Korean entrepreneurs.

    Addressing the event, Roh said the businesspeople of Chinese descent have emerged as the most influential players in global economy.

    He highlighted South Korea's economic ties with China, saying bilateral ties have expanded greatly in all areas including trade,investment and culture since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.

    "Bilateral trade has increased as much as 12 times and China isnow (South) Korea's largest trading partner," he added.

    Roh said the people of the two countries have remained close neighbors and are very much interested in each other, citing the "Korean Wave" in China and the "Chinese Wind" in South Korea.

    He stressed such cooperative ties need to be extended to the overseas Chinese business community as well.

    , Chairman Kang Shin-ho and Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Chairman Yuan also addressed the opening ceremony.

    Huang Mengfu, chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, said the world needs cooperation and only cooperation can bring about economic prosperity, social development and world peace. "We should make efforts to create a fair, rational and mutually beneficial environment for cooperation," he stressed.

    He said the Chinese businesspeople have played a special role in economic globalization and regional economic cooperation, urging the entrepreneurs to make full use of the business convention to enhance exchange and cooperation to help the Chinesebusiness further integrate into the global economy.

    In his speech, Chairman Kang Shin-ho of the Federation of Korean Industries also said the trend of the world economy is to create a "borderless" business environment and realize co-existence and common prosperity.

    South Korea has carried out technological renovation in recent years and made progress in information industry and biotechnology,Kang said, noting the South Korean businesspeople aspire to take part in the convention to seek opportunities of cooperating with Chinese entrepreneurs in industry, finance and tourism.

    Chairman Yuan Kuo-Tung of Korea Chinese Chamber of Commerce andIndustry said China is South Korea's largest investment destination and the convention can help the Chinese businesspeopleknow more about South Korea's investment environment so as to lay a foundation for common prosperity of the Chinese and South Koreanbusinesses.

    During the three-day convention, the Chinese businesspeople andtheir South Korean counterparts will attend various seminars on investment, information technology, biotechnology and startup venture businesses to exchange latest information and expertise, seek trading opportunities and channels for cooperation.

    The business event is held every two years. The 7th WCEC was held in Nanjing, China and the 9th convention will be hosted by Japan. Enditem