On the afternoon of April 18, the 2024 China-Korea Bilateral Seminar on “Revitalizing Local Economy” was successfully held at Shanghai Party Institute of CPC (SPI) and Shanghai Administration Institute (SAI). LUO Feng, Vice President of SPI, and Joo Jae-bok, Acting President of Korea Research Institute for Local Administration (KRILA), attended the seminar. PAN Wenxuan, Executive Vice Chief of Shanghai Academy of Development & Reform, presided over the seminar. Relevant personnel from the Division of Scientific Research Management and the Foreign Affairs Office and all teachers of the Shanghai Academy of Development & Reform participated in the seminar.

After warm speeches by LUO Feng and Joo Jae-bok, other speakers delivered speeches. In the first half, Lee Seo-hee, Director of the Regional Economic Analysis Center of KRILA, exchanged views on the role and effect of central and local governments in revitalizing the regional economy. Then Choe In-su, Director of the Autonomous Decentralization System Office of KRILA, introduced Korean experience in how to systematize local regulatory innovation and revitalize the local economy. In the second half, ZHOU Jing, Deputy Director of Shanghai Academy of Development & Reform, and Dr. LI Xiaojing gave speeches on “Industrial Upgrading to Promote Shanghai’s High-Quality Development” and “Exploration and Practice of Building Shanghai into an International Scientific and Technological Innovation Center” by focusing on Shanghai’s experience and practices in promoting economic development.

In the session of interactive exchanges, the two sides had in-depth discussions on many issues such as the difficulties and pain points in economic development, including the siphoning effect caused by special economic zones, the integration of industries, universities and research institutes, and industrial support policies. They aimed to find ideas and solutions for their own economic development through international experience.

In his summary, LUO Feng pointed out that SAI and KRILA had a deep friendship and long-term cooperation and exchanges for many years. This seminar focused on concerns of each side and had in-depth exchanges, which was conducive to mutual learning and experience sharing between China and South Korea in revitalizing the local economy. We look forward to more exchanges and cooperation in the future.