Korea, Japan agree to cooperate more on finance, energy, startups

Kim Byong-joon, left, the acting chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), speaks while Keidanren Chairman Tokura Masakazu looks on during the inaugural meeting of the Korea-Japan Future Partnership Fund Operating Committee at the FKI Conference Center in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of FKI

By Kim Hyun-bin

Korean and Japanese business leaders came together to address global issues and highlight future industrial cooperation between the two countries. The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) and the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) jointly held the Korea-Japan Industrial Cooperation Forum at the FKI Conference Center in Seoul, Thursday.

Discussions were held on cooperation between Korea and Japan in areas such as joint ventures, global common challenges including carbon neutrality and collaboration in advanced industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technology.

Considering the importance of sustainable development, the two countries agreed to share know-how in the fields of hydrogen and bioenergy as well as their expertise in global common challenges like carbon neutrality and collaborate on future energy technology such as energy security. There was also a compelling call for them to join forces on next-generation technologies such as AI and quantum technology.

Representing the Korean government, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Energy Lee Chang-yang attended the forum, while Matsuo Takehiko, director-general of the Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, represented the Japanese side.

"Economically, the relationship between Korea and Japan has never come to a complete halt," Kim Byong-joon, acting chairman of the FKI, emphasized in his opening remarks. "Thanks to the decision made by the leaders of both countries in March to recover the frozen Korea-Japan relationship, we were able to take a big step toward a future-oriented bilateral relationship. As a result, recent Korea-Japan relations have overcome the difficult situation of the past few years and are fostering an atmosphere of increased cooperation."

In addition, the FKI completed the registration of the Korea-Japan Future Partnership Foundation on June 22. The foundation officially commenced operations and held the inaugural meeting of the Korea-Japan Future Partnership Fund Operating Committee, Thursday.

The Korea-Japan Future Partnership Fund agreed to collaborate on joint projects involving the exchange of future experts, such as high school and university students, and education exchanges among teachers. They also agreed to jointly pursue cooperative ventures in various areas, including economic security, startup integration, entertainment and content.