Chinese City Kicks Off ‘Korea Week’

“2006 Korean Week in Harbin, China” started in Harbin, China on July 3. An opening ceremony in the morning marked the launch of the Korean Week events, which are co-hosted by the government of Harbin, Heilongjiang, and the Korean consulate in Shenyang.

About 5,000 Koreans and Chinese, including former Korean Prime Minister Lee Soo-seong, Korean Consul General to Shenyang Oh Gap-ryul, Harbin’s Communist Party Secretary Du Yuxin and Harbin mayor Shi Zhongxin attended the opening ceremony.

“Harbin is the biggest economic and trade hub of the Northeastern China,” said the mayor. “Let us expand the bilateral exchanges and cooperation between China and Korea by using the Korean Week as a momentum.”

Consul General Oh remarked, “Harbin’s economy is developing rapidly. Its GDP and external trade volume grew by 14.1 percent and 29.5 percent, respectively, last year.” He added, “The 5,000 Korean businessmen, students and ethnic Koreans in Harbin should work together to further develop the friendly cooperative relationship between Korea and China.”

The Korean Week events, which celebrate its second anniversary this year, are held until July 7. This year’s theme is ‘Collaboration and Development,’ and a variety of events like investment seminars, Korean products exhibitions, and academic, cultural, and sport events will be held.

More than 1,000 Korean businessmen who aspire to invest in China will join the investment seminars on July 4 and 5.

Jong-Dae Ha orionha@donga.com