On October 29, 2025, the 3rd China-ROK Governors' Forum, co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea, was successfully held in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Yin Hong, Secretary of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee; Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC; Chen Jing, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and President of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Shan Yi, Vice Governor of Liaoning Province; Zhang Qixiang, Vice Governor of Heilongjiang Province; Muheyati Jarmuhammat, Vice Chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon and President of the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea; Kim Tae-gyun, Deputy Mayor of Seoul; Choi Min-ho, Mayor of Sejong City; Kang Ki-jung, Mayor of Gwangju; Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do Province; and Oh Yeong-hun, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, attended the event and delivered remarks. Niu Liqiang, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Korea; Yu Min-bong, Secretary-General of the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea, and representatives from subnational governments, friendship organizations, and various sectors of two countries, totaling about 100 people, attended the event.
(Group photo of delegates from China and the ROK)
With the theme "Promoting Common Development and Practical Cooperation Between the Subnational Governments of China and South Korea", the forum provided a platform for delegates from both sides to share subnational development practices in economy and trade, industry, science and technology, culture, tourism, and ecology. Participants also exchanged best practices in urban governance and international cooperation and put forward proposals for future collaboration.
(Conference venue)
Yin Hong, Secretary of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee, said that China and the ROK share broad, common interests and that strengthening friendly cooperation at all levels and across fields aligns with the trajectory of China-ROK relations and the aspirations of two peoples. He noted that the successful convening of the 3rd China-ROK Governors' Forum is a concrete step to implement key understandings reached by the two countries' leaders. Introducing Jiangxi's resource endowments, ecological strengths, investment opportunities, and advances in green development, he said Jiangxi—under the guidance of President Xi Jinping—is advancing an industrial-strengthening strategy, building a "Beautiful Jiangxi", improving people's livelihoods, further opening up domestically and internationally, and striving to write a Jiangxi chapter of Chinese-style modernization. Jiangxi stands ready to uphold openness and inclusiveness, further expand economic and trade cooperation and friendly exchanges with the ROK, jointly promote key industries, deepen cross-border cultural and tourism cooperation, and enhance agricultural trade—aiming for mutual benefit and shared development.
Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC, said that China and the ROK are close neighbors with deep cultural and people-to-people ties. Over the 33 years since diplomatic relations were established, the two sides have forged 228 sister-city partnerships, which have advanced subnational exchanges and cooperation and delivered tangible benefits to the two peoples. Consolidating and deepening subnational exchanges not only strengthens public support for bilateral ties but also opens up new possibilities for future collaboration. He expressed hope that subnational governments in two countries will be guided by the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, actively implement the outcomes of President Xi Jinping's state visit to the ROK, and foster closer, more sustainable, and more people-centered partnerships that inject fresh momentum into the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership.
Chen Jing, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and President of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that Shanghai is pursuing the goal of becoming a socialist modern international metropolis with global influence, adhering to a long-term vision, and continuously optimizing a world-class business environment. Embracing the people-oriented city concept, Shanghai ensures development is for and by the people, with outcomes benefiting livelihoods. He proposed further strengthening China-ROK subnational exchanges in the economy and trade, science and technology, and youth.
Shan Yi, Vice Governor of Liaoning Province, said that Liaoning lies at the heart of the Northeast Asia economic zone and serves as an important gateway for China's opening to the east and north. Facing the ROK across the sea, Liaoning has deepened exchanges across sectors with fruitful results. He looked forward to jointly cultivating new drivers of industrial development with partners in the ROK, sharing advances in technological innovation, expanding space for open cooperation, and writing a new chapter in cultural exchange.
Zhang Qixiang, Vice Governor of Heilongjiang Province, said that Heilongjiang boasts unique agricultural strengths, abundant science and education resources, a solid industrial base, and rich tourism resources. The province is accelerating reform and opening-up, vigorously developing new-quality productive forces, and creating strong opportunities for international investors. Heilongjiang looks forward to expanding exchanges with ROK subnational governments in the economy and trade, agriculture and forestry, science and education, and youth, to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.
Muheyati Jarmuhammat, Vice Chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said that under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the CPC's governing policy for Xinjiang in the new era, Xinjiang has made unprecedented progress in economic and social development and in improving people's livelihoods, entering the best development period in its history. Xinjiang attaches great importance to friendly relations with ROK subnational governments and is ready to enhance practical cooperation across fields, raise the level of trade, and continually broaden the space for mutually beneficial cooperation.
(Speeches by delegates from two countries)
Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon, said that since its launch in 2016, the China-ROK Governors' Forum has played a significant role in advancing subnational cooperation. The 2025 meeting—held on the eve of President Xi Jinping's state visit to the ROK—carries special significance. He expressed hope that participants would engage in in-depth exchanges, learn from one another, and work together toward shared prosperity.
Kim Tae-gyun, Deputy Mayor of Seoul, presented cases of international climate-governance cooperation between Seoul and its Chinese sister cities and expressed Seoul's readiness to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China to foster greener, more livable urban environments.
Choi Min-ho, Mayor of Sejong City, said that Sejong, the ROK's youngest city and administrative capital, is rapidly evolving into a modern metropolis. He looked forward to partnering with Chinese cities to build innovative industrial and garden-style cities.
Kang Ki-jung, Mayor of Gwangju, said that Gwangju is cultivating future industries centered on artificial intelligence and hopes to cooperate with Chinese subnational governments in areas such as "AI + smart cities", "AI + healthcare", and "AI + culture".
Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, said that Jeollanam-do has strong agriculture and fisheries and rich cultural and tourism resources. With China a global leader in renewable-energy development and utilization, he expressed willingness to deepen cooperation with China in renewable energy and related fields.
(Yin Hong, Secretary of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee, and Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon and President of the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea, sign the Joint Declaration)
During the meeting, the two sides signed and issued a Joint Declaration, reaching consensus on deepening cooperation in subnational economic development, culture, tourism, education, and youth exchanges. The two sides also agreed that the 4th China-ROK Governors' Forum will be held in China in 2027. During the event, Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok hosted a welcome banquet for the Chinese delegation.
Established in 2016 by the CPAFFC and the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea, the China-ROK Governors' Forum serves as an important institutional platform for exchanges and cooperation among the two countries' provincial-level governments. The previous two forums were held in Incheon and Beijing, respectively.
