1. The fifth Republic of Korea-China forum on public diplomacy will take place in Jeju on August 17, co-hosted by the Foreign Ministries of the two countries with the support of the Korea Foundation (KF) and the China Public Diplomacy Association.

° With the year 2017 marking the 25th anniversary of the ROK-China diplomatic relations, the forthcoming forum themed “only wholehearted friendships go a long way” will consist of session I on public diplomacy over the past 25 years following the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic relations; session II on the 25 anniversary of diplomatic relations from the viewpoint of younger generations of the two countries; and session III on the role of public diplomacy in the development of the bilateral ties and possible cooperation projects in the field of public diplomacy.

- In particular, session II will feature a talk concert and presentations by students in the group that carried out a reciprocal visit project -- the group the ROK and China formed with those born in 1992, the year the two had forged diplomatic ties, in the view that the bond between their younger generations is important in building the bilateral relations over the next 25 years.

- The Korean and Chinese students will present their fresh outlooks and ideas in the session to be moderated by TV announcers of the two countries.

* With the support of the KF and the Sungkyun Institute of China Studies, the group comprised of those born in 1992 spent nine days in the ROK and China seeking ways that, from their perspective, the two countries can advance their ties over the next 25 years.

2. At the forum, experts from various sectors, including former diplomats, scholars, entrepreneurs, journalists and those from the cultural community who have gained abundant experiences in the bilateral ties in the course of the establishment of diplomatic relations and since then, will deliver presentations and engage in discussions on public diplomacy over the past 25 years following the establishment of diplomatic relations.

° At the opening ceremony, Ambassador for Public Diplomacy Park Enna will deliver opening remarks, followed by welcoming remarks by former Chairman Li Zhaoxing of the China Public Diplomacy Association and KF President Lee Si-hyung, as well as congratulatory remarks by Chinese Ambassador to the ROK Qiu Guohong and Governor Won Hee-ryong of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.

3. The fourth forum took place in Yangzhou, China, the home to the Choi Chi-won Memorial Hall, a symbol of the 1,000-year-long friendship between the two countries. The fifth of its kind will be held in Jeju, the top tourist destination for Chinese, and thereby is expected to help boost public diplomacy between provincial government agencies of the two countries.

° Delegates from Jeju and Yangzhou will participate in session III discussions.

4. The ROK-China forum on public diplomacy was established to seek ways to strengthen the bond between the peoples of the two countries pursuant to the agreement reached between the Presidents of the two countries at their summit talks in June 2013. Held on an annual basis since then, the forum is developing into a solid channel for cooperation on track-1.5 public diplomacy, a platform for exploring the role of public diplomacy as a framework for the advancement of bilateral relations.

° The forum was first held in Seoul on September 24, 2013, followed by the second in Beijing on June 12, 2014, the third in Seoul on November 19, 2015 and the fourth in Yangzhou on November 28, 2016.


* unofficial translation