The MoU signing ceremony on the founding of the Shanghai-Busan Cooperation Forum is held in Yifu Building, Tongji University

On June 30, 2016, a signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the founding of the Shanghai-Busan Cooperation Forum jointly by the Institute for China & World Studies, Tongji University and the Center for Chinese Studies, Dongseo University (DSU) was held in Yifu Building, Tongji University. The ceremony was attended by Professor Lu Peiming, Vice President of Tongji University, Shin Jung-seung, former Ambassador of South Korea to China and Director of the Center for Chinese Studies of DSU, Lee Sun-woo, Education Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai, Men Honghua, Distinguished Professor at Tongji and President of the Institute for China & World Studies, Tongji University, Xu Hong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Political Science & International Relations, Tongji University, and Zhang Lun, Director of the International Students Office, Tongji University, and moderated by Professor Liu Shuyan, Deputy Dean of the School of Political Science & International Relations, Tongji University.

During his visit to Tongji University in March of this year, Shin Jung-seung proposed the idea of founding the Shanghai-Busan Cooperation Forum that brings together representatives of the academic, government and business circles of South Korea and China. Serving as an institutionalized communication channel between the two universities, the forum will promote in-depth cooperation between the sister cities of Busan and Shanghai, and build itself into a high-level forum to bridge the cultural exchanges between the two cities and even the two nations. This initiative has received positive responses and support from Tongji University, DSU, Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Korea Foundation, and the Consulate General of ROK in Shanghai. After negotiation, the Institute for China & World Studies of Tongji and the Center for Chinese Studies of DSU decided to jointly initiate and found the Shanghai-Busan Cooperation Forum, which would be held in Shanghai and Busan alternatively.

Vice President Lu Peiming extended a sincere welcome to former ambassador Shin Jung-Seung and other South Korean guests, and congratulated the two institutions on their joint establishment of the forum. He said that Tongji University will give full support to the holding of the forum and looks forward to the joint efforts of all parties to promote the cooperation between the two universities and the two sister cities and write a new chapter for China-ROK friendship.

Shin pointed out that the Shanghai-Busan Cooperation Forum will be a high-end international forum centering on such themes as East Asian cooperation, China-ROK relations, and Shanghai-Busan cooperation. He proposed that the first forum be held at DSU on November 3-5, 2016 to address topics including the East Asian situation, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), cooperation between Shanghai and Busan under the BRI, and promotion of cultural exchanges between the two cities.  

This proposal received a positive response from Professor Men Honghua. Both sides agreed to confirm the forum topics and invite participants as soon as possible to ensure its successful opening.