1. The 2013 ROK-China Public Diplomacy Forum, co-hosted by the ROK and Chinese Foreign Ministries and co-organized by the Korea Foundation and the China Public Diplomacy Association, will be held for the first time at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul on September 24.

2. In the ROK-China Future Vision Joint Statement adopted at the ROK-China summit in June, the two countries agreed to hold the Forum to facilitate bilateral cooperation in public diplomacy. The upcoming Forum will be held under the theme of “ROK-China public diplomacy cooperation: a meeting for a journey to build trust.” The Forum will bring together ROK and Chinese public diplomacy experts from various fields, including political circles, academia, private organizations and the media.

o The forthcoming Forum will not only be the first step to substantiate the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership, but also an opportunity to enhance awareness and understanding between the peoples of both countries. The Forum is expected to serve as a foundation to strengthen bilateral cooperation in public diplomacy.

3. The Chinese delegation, led by Li Zhaoxing, former Chinese Foreign Minister and current President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, consists of experts from a variety of areas, including acting Director-General of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Information Department Tian Qi, CCTV Deputy Editor-in-chief Zhu Tong and Dean of the School of International Relations at Beijing Foreign Studies University Li Yonghui.

o The ROK delegation includes Ambassador for Public Diplomacy Ma Young-sam and Director-General for Cultural Affairs Hahn Choong-hee of the Foreign Ministry, President of the Korea Foundation Yu Hyun-seok, Director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the Korean National Diplomacy Academy Shin Jung-seung, Professor Lee Hee-ok of Sungkyunkwan University, Professor Kim Ki-jung of Yonsei University, Joongang Ilbo reporter Yoo Sang-cheol and Donga Ilbo columnist Ha Tae-won.

o The ROK and Chinese delegations will make presentations and take the chair at three sessions of the upcoming Forum. The delegations will exchanges views on the two countries’ current policies, directions for cooperation and joint cooperation projects in public diplomacy.
- As a result of the discussions at the Forum, recommendations on directions for cooperation in public diplomacy between the ROK and China governments will be adopted.

4. The Forum is the first bilateral forum in public diplomacy between the ROK and Chinese governments, as well as the first bilateral forum in the area the ROK holds with foreign country. The Forum will be held on an annual basis. The ROK and Chinese governments will continue to work for the Forum to serve as a systematic and long-term channel for bilateral cooperation in public diplomacy, rather than become a one-time event.


             Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

*unofficial translation