A delegation of 21 business representatives from the Republic of Korea paid a successful visit to Harbin, capital city of China’s northernmost Heilongjiang province on Aug 4, according to local officials.

They visited 16 companies that were recommended by South Korea’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The companies those visited operate in environmental protection, medical equipment, technology finance, cross-border e-commerce, smart cities, public safety, IT and other fields.

Officials said the delegation came to discuss further economic and trade deals.

They said it was the first commercial visit made in person in Heilongjiang by potential international trading partners since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, making it of great importance to the province.

Wu Wenge, director of the Foreign Affairs Department of Heilongjiang Province, praised the deep friendship between China and South Korea during the epidemic.

He said that Heilongjiang was doing a good job in daily epidemic prevention and control, and would resume economic and trade exchanges with South Korea as soon as possible, to help both sides resume work and production.

Wu also mentioned that next year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of relations between Heilongjiang province and North Chungcheong in South Korea, and the two planned to hold a series of celebrations.

As a result of the delegation’s visit, an agreement was reached to establish a Sino-South Korean International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center in Harbin, to strengthen commerce and trade between Heilongjiang and small and medium-sized enterprises in South Korea.

Officials said that once established, the new center will actively promote the Heilongjiang Free Trade Zone to South Korean entrepreneurs, and help South Korean enterprises start businesses in Harbin.
  A meeting between China’s northernmost Heilongjiang province and a South Korean business delegation takes place in Harbin city on Aug 6. [Photo/hljfao.gov.cn]