Chinese Ambassador's Consecutive Visits to Hainan Raise Expectations for Korea-China Exchange and Cooperation

Following Former Ambassador Zhu Guohong, Ambassador Xing Haiming Also Visits Hainan

Interest Grows in Whether 400 Years of Korea-China Friendship Will Continue Through Post-COVID Economic Exchanges

(On the left) Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming presented a ceramic piece engraved with a ship setting sail for the first time on the sea, symbolizing the first rice export, to County Governor Myeong Hyeon-gwan. Photo by Haenam County

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] As Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming made a sudden visit to Hainan, attention is focusing on the love for Hainan shown by successive Chinese ambassadors.

According to Hainan County on the 26th, Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming visited Hainan from the 22nd for a one-night, two-day schedule, attending a ceremony commemorating the export of Hainan rice to China and touring major tourist attractions and investment sites.

Former Chinese Ambassador Chu Guohong, who was known as the longest-serving Chinese ambassador, also visited Hainan in 2015. The consecutive visits of Chinese ambassadors to Hainan are attributed to the Hwangjo Byeolmyo located in Sanim-myeon, Hainan.

Hwangjo Byeolmyo is a shrine dedicated to Ming Dynasty General Chen Lin, who, as a naval commander during the Japanese invasions of Korea (August 1597?December 1598), defeated the Japanese forces alongside General Yi Sun-sin.

After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, Chen Lin's descendants settled in Hainan, and Hwangjo Byeolmyo has been known as a representative place symbolizing the long-standing ties and friendship between Korea and China.

In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Korea and emphasized during a lecture at Seoul National University that "Korea and China are neighbors who have built deep affection over thousands of years," mentioning that "General Deng Zilong of the Ming Dynasty and General Yi Sun-sin of the Joseon Dynasty both died in the Battle of Noryang, and even today, descendants of Ming Dynasty General Chen Lin still live in Korea," which attracted significant attention.

Also, during President Moon Jae-in's lecture at Peking University, he emphasized that "there are currently about 2,000 descendants of General Chen Lin living in Korea," highlighting that China and Korea are comrades who have endured and overcome hardships together.

Hainan County has maintained friendly cooperation by establishing a sisterhood relationship with Yongxin County, China, the hometown of General Chen Lin, since 1999, engaging in mutual visits and inviting descendants of General Chen Lin to the annual Battle of Myeongnyang Festival.

Myung Hyun-kwan, the mayor of Hainan County, personally visited Yongxin County last year and signed an MOU with Acting Director Dam Hyo-geon, including plans for joint development between the county and prefecture and expansion of civilian exchanges.

Although exchange projects were suspended after the outbreak of COVID-19, this year Hainan County and Yongxin County have continued their close friendship by supporting each other with quarantine masks.

Ambassador Xing Haiming's visit is interpreted as a result of the effective efforts of Hainan County in promoting cooperation and exchange with China.

In August, when Mayor Myung visited the Chinese Embassy to discuss the export of Hainan rice, he explained the historical background and requested Ambassador Xing's visit to Hainan, which the ambassador showed great interest in, leading to his return visit to Hainan after about two months.

(On the left) Ambassador Sing visits the Osiano Tourist Complex site and receives an explanation from County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan. Photo by Haenam County

Unusually staying in Hainan for one night and two days, Ambassador Xing not only paid respects at Hwangjo Byeolmyo but also toured major tourist sites in Hainan, showing great interest in Hainan's traditional culture.

In particular, he personally inspected the Solar City industrial complex and the Osiano tourist complex, expressing expectations for developmental growth with Korea after COVID-19, including investment attraction.

The Solar City industrial complex operates the largest solar power plant in Korea and is considered an optimal site for the Korean New Deal policy aimed at building an energy self-sufficient future city.

The Osiano tourist complex faces China across the sea and is the closest inland tourist complex to Jeju Island, which is the most visited destination by Chinese tourists.

Ambassador Xing stated, "China is the only country to achieve positive GDP growth this year, and Korea has also achieved great results in economic measures through effective COVID-19 prevention," adding, "As China's external imports are expected to continue expanding after COVID-19, it is anticipated to be a great opportunity for Korea, including Hainan."

He also expressed his opinion, saying, "At this critical time, I hope that China and Korea seize the opportunity and create new growth opportunities together after COVID-19, and I want to help activate Chinese tourism centered on the General Chen Lin historic site and attract investment."

Hainan County evaluates that through two investment attraction briefings, it has not only drawn attention to Hainan's infinite development potential but also established a foothold for exchange and cooperation with China in preparation for the post-COVID-19 era.

Mayor Myung Hyun-kwan stated, "We will once again turn the good relationship of the past 400 years into a good opportunity and develop it into an international friendship relationship that will prosper for 1,000 or 2,000 years," expressing his intention to expand exchange and cooperation.