by Xinhua writers Zhang Can, Sun Yiran and Yang Chang
SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cranes lift containers and trucks move steadily through Incheon New Port in Incheon, South Korea, where China-made electric equipment is now part of daily operations. A new shipping route linking the South Korean port with Rizhao, China, also set sail on Wednesday.
From busy ports to expanding trade and people-to-people exchanges, ties between China and South Korea offer a snapshot of the economic interdependence that binds the Asia-Pacific community.
With the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen, China, just days away, South Korean officials and experts see an opportunity to build on the momentum generated in Gyeongju, South Korea, last year and further advance an open and cooperative Asia-Pacific community.
TRADE & CONNECTIVITY
"There are around 30 Chinese-made electric yard cranes currently operating at Incheon New Port, with another 14 expected to be added in 2027," said Nam Sang-ki, general manager of Sun Kwang Newport Container Terminal Co., Ltd. He noted that the new Rizhao-Incheon container route, which launched this Wednesday, is expected to handle 100,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually.
"With ports moving toward greener and smarter operations, we see considerable room for cooperation with China in equipment, automation and artificial intelligence," Nam said.
For Nam, the expansion is about more than adding equipment or opening another route. It reflects the need to keep goods moving efficiently across borders at a time when global trade and supply chains face mounting uncertainty.
That concern was also central to China's message at the 2025 APEC meeting in Gyeongju. China called on economies to stand together in the face of challenges, resist decoupling and maintain stable industrial and supply chains, while advancing an open and inclusive regional economy.
Ro Jae Hun, South Korean ambassador to China, said bilateral economic ties had gained fresh momentum following reciprocal visits by the two countries' leaders within just over two months. He noted that bilateral trade expanded notably in the first half of 2026, adding that efforts are being made to boost services trade and investment and to keep supply chains stable.
Kang Ho-gu, director of the Sino-Korea Economy/Society Institute, pointed to discussions between Samsung Electronics and Chinese companies on autonomous driving chips as an example of how businesses can compete in some areas while finding common ground in others. "Competition within the same industries is increasingly going hand in hand with cooperation across the supply chain."
Ryu Ji-won, director of the Institute for Korea-China Relations at Wonkwang University, said the region's deep economic interdependence would not disappear despite rising protectionism and tariff tensions.
"With semiconductors, artificial intelligence and new energy reshaping the industrial landscape, closer coordination among Asia-Pacific economies is all the more important," he said.
PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGES
In Gyeongju, the host city of last year's APEC meeting, memories of the event linger. Local businesses still recall the influx of visitors, while the Gyeongju National Museum has seen a lasting boost in interest following a meeting between the Chinese and South Korean leaders held there.
"The venue for the leaders' meeting remained open to visitors for about four months after the event, attracting tourists from both countries," said Yoon Sang-deok, director of the museum. He noted that the number of Chinese visitors rose by more than 7 percent after the APEC meeting.
Cultural ties between the two countries also have a longer history. The museum has worked with China's Shaanxi History Museum since 2003 and joined hands with the Shanghai Museum this year to stage an exhibition featuring relics from the ancient Silla Kingdom.
"Chinese tea and restaurant brands have become increasingly popular among young South Koreans, while South Korean fashion brands are finding a growing audience in China," Ro noted, adding that more frequent exchanges are helping bring the two peoples closer. He expected cross-border passenger trips between the two countries to top 10 million this year.
EYES ON SHENZHEN
For South Korean lawmakers and scholars, the handover from Gyeongju to Shenzhen is a chance to carry forward the momentum of regional cooperation.
Kim Tae-nyeon, a South Korean lawmaker and president of the South Korea-China Parliamentarians' Union, said the consecutive APEC meetings hosted by South Korea and China offer an opportunity to maintain continuity and push forward shared priorities.
He said China's proposed theme for the 2026 meeting, "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together," underscores the importance of openness, innovation and collaboration, expressing hopes that the Shenzhen meeting will yield concrete progress in areas such as supply chain resilience, free and fair trade, digitalization, artificial intelligence and climate change.
Ryu said Shenzhen's experience in technological innovation and industrial development could offer valuable insights for other APEC economies seeking new areas of cooperation.
"Shenzhen provides a window into China's innovation ecosystem and offers opportunities to explore cooperation in artificial intelligence and emerging industries," he said. ■
