Business leaders from China and ROK said they were optimistic about deeper cooperation in high-tech sectors, as they gathered at this year's China-ROK business forum in Beijing on Monday.

This year's forum brought together approximately 400 representatives from the two countries' governments and business communities, including major ROK conglomerates, all hopeful that ROK President Lee Jae Myung's visit to China would signal new opportunities for bilateral economic engagement.

The forum was co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), underscoring the importance both sides place on maintaining robust economic ties.

China has been ROK's largest trading partner for 21 consecutive years, while ROK remains China's second-largest. The two economies are deeply interlinked, particularly in advanced manufacturing and technology.

"Battery technology is very advanced, and SDV software, businesses and great engineers are here in China. So, maybe we can cooperate more, and maybe we can give better technology to the customer," said Chung Eui-sun, executive chair of Hyundai Motor Group.

Attendees at the forum suggested there is growing scope for mutually beneficial collaboration.

"As economic globalization faces increasing challenges, businesses from both countries should look for more win-win solutions through cooperation in industrial chains and technologies," said Li Dongsheng, chairman of TCL Technology Group.

The forum coincided with Lee's state visit to China from January 4 to 7, his first since taking office in June 2025, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During the forum, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized that China and ROK should strengthen economic ties and forge new prospects for win-win cooperation.

Lee said that cooperation between ROK and China has deepened across various fields in recent years. He reaffirmed ROK's willingness to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with China and bring more benefits to the peoples of both countries.