Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing visited Ulsan on July 30 to discuss expanding cooperation in future advanced industries with Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-wook. This marks the first official visit by a Chinese ambassador to Ulsan in 12 years, and it is expected to enhance economic and industrial collaboration between the industrial city of Ulsan and China.
On the morning of his visit, Ambassador Dai met with Mayor Kim at Ulsan City Hall to discuss economic and industrial cooperation. Following their meeting, he held a discussion with local export companies and toured key industrial sites in Ulsan.
The meeting included Chen Ribo, the Chinese Consul General in Busan, as well as Ulsan City Council Chair Lee Young-hae and Vice Chairs Hong Seong-woo and Son Geun-ho.
This visit was arranged after Mayor Kim proposed it during a meeting with Ambassador Dai in Seoul last June, prior to his election.
During their discussion, Mayor Kim highlighted Ulsan's sister-city relationships with six Chinese cities: Changchun, Wuxi, Yantai, Qingdao, Henan Province, and Guangzhou. He suggested expanding cooperation in future advanced industries such as industrial artificial intelligence (AI), smart manufacturing, future mobility, and the hydrogen economy.
Mayor Kim also requested the support and interest of the Chinese Embassy in facilitating cooperation with Chinese cities that are leaders in advanced manufacturing, which Ulsan is considering for expanded exchanges.
The subsequent 'Ulsan Region Export-Import Business Meeting with China' included six local companies: Kemp, MTG, Ginkgo Tech, Suchang TFS, Mobil Korea Lubricants, and Whale City. They discussed challenges in entering the Chinese market and ways to enhance cooperation.
The companies shared their difficulties in accessing the Chinese market and provided suggestions for boosting trade. Ambassador Dai listened to their concerns and exchanged views on expanding economic cooperation.
After the meeting, the Chinese delegation visited the Taehwa River National Garden and Taehwaru, followed by a tour of Hyundai Motor's new electric vehicle plant and the SK Energy Ulsan Complex to observe Ulsan's future automotive and energy industries.
Ulsan is South Korea's largest hub for the automotive, shipbuilding, and petrochemical industries, with significant trade ties to China. Recently, the city has been accelerating its transition to future industries centered on industrial AI, smart manufacturing, and the hydrogen economy, indicating a strong potential for expanding cooperation beyond traditional manufacturing sectors.
An official from Ulsan City expressed hope that this visit would solidify trade in key industries and expand cooperation with Chinese local governments and businesses in future advanced industries such as AI and smart manufacturing. He added that the city aims to continuously enhance practical economic cooperation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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