As China and the Republic of Korea deepen high-level exchanges, economic cooperation between the two countries is taking center stage, said Park Sun Kyung, chief representative of the Korea International Trade Association Shanghai Office.
In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), the official noted that President Lee Jae-Myung's latest state visit to China from Jan 4 to 7 sends a clear signal that South Korean companies hope to discover new growth opportunities through in-depth cooperation with China.
"In particular, the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in emerging industries, such as the digital economy, green and low carbon development, and biotechnology, offering a clear and promising direction for future collaboration. President Lee's visit to China was accompanied by a business delegation of roughly 200 people. It is almost double the number of the last delegation eight years ago and a mutually large and high-level contingency. This can be interpreted as a signal of the ROK core industries' long-term commitment to the Chinese market," she said.
Park further stated that major South Korean companies increasingly view China as an indispensable partner in their future global strategies, not merely as a sales market or a manufacturing base.
"First, China's vast market and already upgrading domestic demand remain a growth engine that global companies cannot ignore. Second, China has built powerful and comprehensive industrial clusters in key fields such as new energy, digital technologies, and advanced materials, offering strong complementary with South Korean firms. Deeper cooperation is essential for both sides to sustain global competitiveness. Finally, the delegation reflects South Korean companies' intent to move beyond traditional trade and investment models toward a higher-level collaboration, including joint R and D, co-creation of markets, and co-development of standards," she said.
During the interview, the official also stressed stronger China-ROK coordination is key to stable supply chains and open global trade.
"The two countries should establish a regular dialogue mechanism to jointly monitor risk, issue early warnings, and prepare contingency plans in critical sectors such as semiconductors and new energy. We can encourage companies to co-build R and D centers and industrial parks, forming complementary industrial chains. We can also support a multilateral trading framework, oppose trade protectionism, and promote an open world economy. We can also strengthen exchanges and cooperation among industry associations and SMEs, supporting joint entry into third-country markets, and improve supply chain coordination capabilities," she explained.
China-ROK ties deepen with expanded cooperation: official
The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is emerging as a key engine for China's fast-growing low-altitude economy by leveraging its dense industrial networks, efficient logistics systems, and rapid innovation capacity.
From logistics and manufacturing to urban services, the region is building an integrated industrial chain that allows low-altitude industries to scale up at unprecedented speed, thus turning drone-based applications from isolated trials into large-scale, commercial operations.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan, covering 2026 to 2030, calls for the cultivation of new pillar industries and the accelerated development of strategic emerging industrial clusters, including the low-altitude economy.
At a drone operations center in Bao'an District, Shenzhen City in south China's Guangdong Province, a dozen logistics drones take off and land within minutes. Urgently needed production parts, documents, and small parcels are dispatched from here to cities in the province including Dongguan, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai.
Behind these high-flying aircraft lies what observers describe as an "invisible industrial chain", built on speed and efficiency.
"Look at this aircraft. About 90 percent of its components come from nearby areas. Relying on Shenzhen's strong logistics capabilities and its complete supply chain, these parts can be delivered to our factory within half an hour for assembly, processing, and production," said Li Kunhuang, person-in-charge of Shenzhen GODO Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
Once a new product is unveiled, testing and calibration begin immediately at the drone testing field. As soon as the process is completed, the new models can be put into real-world operation, realizing almost “zero delay” from research and development to application.
Supported by a robust industrial chain, low-altitude routes in Shenzhen are effectively connecting the urban landscape. From its Bao'an District to Songshan Lake in Dongguan City, production components can be delivered within one hour. Supplies are transported between Zhuhai City's Xiangzhou Port to Dong'ao Island in just 25 minutes. And light industrial goods can travel round-trip within a single day between Guzhen Town in Zhongshan City and Xinhui District in Jiangmen City.
More low-altitude application scenarios are expected to be implemented in the near future.
In Qianhai District, Shenzhen is accelerating the construction of a pilot demonstration zone of low-altitude integrated three-dimensional transportation hub.
"We have built the country's first low-altitude integrated three-dimensional transportation hub, and are gradually developing a pilot flight zone that integrates multiple scenarios such as inspection, logistics, and cultural tourism. This will provide technical support for the next step of commercializing cross-border logistics and emergency rescue services across the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area," said Wu Xuemin, head of the Shenzhen Qianhai Low-Altitude Integrated Three-Dimensional Transportation Hub Pilot Demonstration Zone.
Integrated supply chains propel Greater Bay Area's low-altitude economy growth
