Busan City Co-hosts the '2022 Korea-Latin America Future Cooperation Forum' with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 2030 Busan World Expo Bid Committee

Mayor Park Hyung-jun, Fully Committed to '2030 Busan Expo Bid' at Forum

Busan City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Park Hyung-jun, Mayor of Busan, will request support for the 2030 Busan World Expo at the ‘Korea-Latin America Future Cooperation Forum’ starting on the 5th.

Busan City will jointly host the ‘2022 Korea-Latin America Future Cooperation Forum’ with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 2030 Busan World Expo Bid Committee from July 5 to 6 in the Haeundae and Bukhang areas.

Marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with 15 Latin American countries this year, the forum will be attended by 10 ministers and vice ministers from Latin American countries including the Foreign Ministers of Costa Rica and Honduras, the Minister of Energy and Minerals of the Dominican Republic, and the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food of Guatemala, as well as heads of diplomatic missions in Korea, government officials, businesspeople from Busan Chamber of Commerce, honorary consuls, and international relations experts, totaling about 200 participants.

The participating countries are Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Argentina, Haiti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, and Jamaica.

The forum will hold session-based discussions under the theme ‘Strengthening Customized Cooperation for Korea-Latin America Mutual Prosperity,’ focusing on practical cooperation topics such as minerals, energy transition, digital technology, and infrastructure.

On the first day of the forum, July 5 at 10 a.m., the opening ceremony of the ‘2022 Korea-Latin America Future Cooperation Forum’ will be held at the Haeundae Paradise Hotel, featuring an opening address by Foreign Minister Park Jin and a welcome speech by Mayor Park Hyung-jun.

Ministers, vice ministers, professors, and experts from Latin American countries will participate as presenters in forum sessions, and heads of Busan’s international exchange organizations, businesspeople interested in Latin American markets, and students will also attend.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun will hold individual bilateral meetings with ministers and vice ministers from eight countries including Ecuador, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Honduras, who are attending as representatives of their respective Latin American countries, to discuss country-specific agendas such as economic, trade, and cultural exchanges with Busan and to request support for the 2030 Busan World Expo bid.

Mayor Park will have close discussions with Colombia on shipbuilding and fisheries sectors; Costa Rica on transportation and coffee industry sectors; El Salvador on public administration digital transformation and port development technology exchange; and the Dominican Republic on port, fisheries, and energy sectors. He will also propose friendly cooperation with the capitals of key countries and actively promote Busan’s global brand.

On July 5 at 6:30 p.m., a welcome dinner will be held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Haeundae, inviting all forum participants, heads of Busan’s international exchange organizations, and businesspeople for networking.

Attendees will include Mayor Park, Latin American ministers and vice ministers, heads of diplomatic missions in Korea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Latin America Division, presenters of the Future Cooperation Forum sessions, the Busan Consular Corps, executives of the Busan Chamber of Commerce, and related organizations from various fields.

During the dinner, a promotional video and presentation (PT) for the 2030 Busan World Expo will be shared, and KARDI, the star of the Expo promotional song, will appear in person to heighten enthusiasm for the Expo bid. There will also be a demonstration of Taekwondo poomsae by students from Dong-A University’s Department of Physical Education, showcasing Korean tradition and strength.

On the morning of the second day, July 6, Mayor Park and Latin American ministers and vice ministers will tour Hyundai Motor Studio inside F1963 in Suyeong-gu, the planned site for the 2030 Busan Expo, and the Bukhang redevelopment promotional center, demonstrating their passion and commitment to the Expo bid.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun said, “I ask for active support and encouragement so that the 2030 Busan World Expo, which will prepare for the digital transformation era and become a stage for pursuing human coexistence, can be held in Busan. I look forward to the day when Busan and Latin America become core partners opening the future together on the global stage.”

From June 18 to 23, Mayor Park stayed in Paris and successfully completed the second competitive presentation (PT) to the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE). He met with Robot Clarke, Chair of the Expo Bid Committee, French Foreign Minister Colonna, and BIE Secretary-General Kerkentes to discuss efforts to bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo and ways to strengthen ongoing cooperation between Korea and the BIE, dedicating full efforts to the Expo bid activities.