Korea-Japan Chamber of Commerce Presidents Meeting... Chey Tae-won "Cooperation is the Source of Competitiveness, Expecting Korea-Japan Synergy"

Held on the 25th at Osaka Imperial Hotel
14 Korean Business Leaders Including Chairman Chey Tae-won Attended
Cooperation in Energy, Supply Chain, and Advanced Technology
"Next Year Marks 60th Anniversary of Korea-Japan Diplomatic Normalization
We Must Seek a Path for Future-Oriented Cooperation"

The chairpersons of the chambers of commerce from South Korea and Japan met and agreed to closely cooperate in the fields of energy, supply chains, and advanced technology to overcome the global economic crisis.

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is delivering the opening address at the 13th Korea-Japan Chamber of Commerce Chairpersons' Meeting held on the 25th at the Imperial Hotel in Osaka, Japan. Photo by Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry

According to the business community on the 25th, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held the 13th Korea-Japan Chambers of Commerce Chairpersons' Meeting together with the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Imperial Hotel in Osaka, Japan, and agreed to strengthen economic cooperation at the private sector level. Both chambers jointly issued a joint statement calling for expanding the scope of cooperation to resolve the economic and social issues commonly faced by both countries. The joint statement included discovering promising cooperation areas that could bring economic benefits, expanding people-to-people exchanges such as tourism and cultural exchanges, and cooperating for the successful hosting of the '2025 APEC CEO Summit.'

The meeting was attended by 14 Korean business leaders, including Choi Tae-won, chairman of KCCI, Park Seung-hee, president of Samsung Electronics, Lee Hyung-hee, chairman of SK Communications Committee, Kim Dong-wook, vice president of Hyundai Motor Company, and Shin Hyun-woo, president of Hanwha. From Japan, 13 members including Kobayashi Ken, chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (advisor at Mitsubishi Corporation), were present.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Choi said, "There is a Korean proverb that says 'Sitting close makes affection deeper.' Meeting annually and sitting together, I feel that the economic circles of Korea and Japan are becoming closer than before." He added, "Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, a historic milestone. At this time, it is necessary to recall our friendship and seek a future-oriented path of cooperation." He also proposed, "To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization next year, the Korea-Japan Chambers of Commerce should jointly plan a special program to review 60 years of economic cooperation between the two countries and present a vision for the next 100 years."

Chairman Choi also stated, "In Gyeongju next year, the 2025 APEC CEO Summit will be held, and in Osaka, the 2025 World Expo will take place. These internationally influential events are expected to activate exchanges between local governments and companies of both countries. Cooperation is the source of competitiveness, so the Korea-Japan chambers of commerce expect numerous synergy effects based on a broad foundation."

Attending as vice chairman of the Seoul Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cho Hyun-sang, vice chairman of HS Hyosung, gave a presentation on "Korea-Japan Economic Cooperation and the Role of the Business Community," emphasizing, "In a situation of internal and external crises?unstable international conditions externally and structural growth limits internally?private economic cooperation is the only practical solution." He stressed, "The private sector must take the lead in proposing specific cooperation areas and clearly communicate the benefits of cooperation to the public." He identified hydrogen industry, advanced manufacturing, and tourism as promising fields for Korea-Japan economic cooperation.