Prime minister opens China trip with business outreach

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with a group of Chinese businesspeople in Beijing on Monday as the first official event of his three-day trip to the country.

Kim is set to join a World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in the coastal city of Dalian and hold meetings with senior Chinese officials in Beijing amid speculation about whether he will meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

During the gathering with Chinese businesspeople at the Korean ambassador's residence in Beijing, the prime minister said the main reason he wanted to visit was to witness China's "remarkable economic development" with his own eyes.

"Korea and China are walking a firmer path [together] since the establishment of diplomatic ties, upon the foundation of a long history," he said, asking the participants to share their success stories and plans for cooperation with Korean firms.

After Beijing, Kim will fly to Dalian, China, to attend the annual WEF meeting, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, where he is scheduled to deliver a special address outlining Korea's innovative economic vision and propose ways of international cooperation.

It is Kim's first trip to China since taking office as the first prime minister of President Lee Jae Myung last year. In March, he had planned to visit China for the annual Boao Forum for Asia, but the trip was canceled as he had to deal with the effects of the conflict in the Middle East.

Kim is also the first Korean prime minister to attend the Summer Davos Forum in 10 years since then Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn did so in 2016. On the sidelines of the forum, Kim is expected to meet with officials and business leaders from other nations.

It is expected to be Kim's last overseas trip as prime minister. He has already offered to resign to run for leader of the ruling Democratic Party. President Lee has also nominated Han Seong-sook, minister for medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, to succeed Kim as prime minister.

Yonhap