Offshore wind farm in Rudong county, Nantong. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

A business and trade cooperation exchange meeting between Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, and Busan, South Korea, was held in Nantong on May 12.

Entrepreneurs from both countries, representing industries such as shipbuilding, marine engineering, equipment manufacturing, and electronic information, gathered in the Chinese city to explore opportunities for collaboration.

Zhang Tong, mayor of Nantong, highlighted the longstanding history of exchanges and cooperation between Nantong and South Korea, with Busan as a key partner. She said that both cities are renowned for their ports and industrial strengths, presenting strong economic and trade complementarities and broad prospects for collaboration.

Zhang emphasized Nantong's ambition to become a premier destination for foreign investment in the Yangtze River Delta region, along with its promise to ensure a transparent, stable, and predictable institutional environment. She expressed hope for more South Korean enterprises to integrate their advanced concepts, management models, and production technologies with Nantong's industries.

Kwon Do-gyeom, head of Korea International Trade Association's Busan regional headquarters, underscored China's key role as a core partner for South Korea. He referenced the deeper meaning of the word "friend" in South Korea, expressing his hope that entrepreneurs from both countries could become cooperative partners, working together to drive development.

During the meeting, representatives from Nantong's development zones, including the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area, Tongzhou Bay Demonstration Zone, Rudong Yangkou Port Economic Development Zone, and Qidong Lyusi Port Economic Development Zone, introduced their investment environments, industrial layouts, and key cooperation projects. Company representatives from both countries shared their development experiences and discussed their cooperation needs based on their practices.