AsianFin–Zhao Hejuan, the founder, chairperson and CEO of TMTPOST, said that Chinese companies could learn from the South Korean peers in building global brands and expanding overseas market at the China-S. Korea Future Cutting-edge Industry Forum.
Zhao emphasized the importance of fostering technology and industry exchanges between China and South Korea, particularly in the context of globalized demand and amid jarring anti-globalization noises.
The China-S. Korea Future Cutting-edge Industry Forum in Incheon, hosted by the Incheon Free Economic Zone (iFEZ) and the Chinese Embassy in South Korea, with co-sponsorship from Pangoal Think Tank, TMTPost Group, and the Korea Institute of Policy Evaluation. The forum drew nearly 100 business representatives from both China and South Korea.
Zhao pointed out that South Korea has become a global leader in areas such as semiconductor chips, new energy, 3C electronics (computer, communication and consumer electronics), and biomedicine.
She also highlighted the profound impact of emerging industries such as AI, new energy, and biotechnology, noting the immense global transformation these sectors are driving.
In her address, Zhao underscored the significance of Incheon, often referred to as the "golden bridge" of China-South Korea cooperation.
She reflected on her visit in March 2024 to Incheon, where she was impressed by the city’s status as both a global logistics hub and a center for technological innovation. Incheon has emerged as a vital ecosystem for industries such as biotechnology, smart logistics, automotive, and new energy—sectors that are experiencing rapid growth in China. Zhao stressed that cooperation in these advanced industries will foster the mutually beneficial development of technology industries in Northeast Asia and shape a new global landscape for collaboration.
TMTPost, China’s largest technology and financial information service provider, has witnessed the inception and rapid growth of many Chinese companies over the past decade. One such company is Horizon Robotics, which is present at today’s event. TMTPost has seen Horizon Robotics evolve from a startup to a unicorn, and its IPO on Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Despite facing challenges along the way, we have supported each other and sensed their demand and resolve to become a global brand during their venture into global markets.
She went on to say that TMTPost, along with its partners, has been dedicated to creating global technology ecosystems, promoting global technological exchanges, and driving the industrialization of emerging technologies. Zhao hopes the forum will serve as a "golden bridge" for industry exchanges between China and South Korea.
The forum gathered leading entrepreneurs and industry representatives from China’s biotech, smart logistics, automotive, and new energy sectors to explore pathways for bilateral cooperation.
Zhao thanked the support of the Incheon Free Economic Zone and the Korea Institute of Policy Evaluation for offering local industry insights and facilitating valuable exchange opportunities.
Looking forward, Zhao expressed confidence that this forum marks only the beginning of deeper collaboration. She highlighted the goal of establishing a two-way communication mechanism to assist companies from both nations in enhancing investment opportunities and cooperation. By leveraging TMTPost’s platform and global resources, she aims to deepen the technological cooperation between China and South Korea.
In closing, Zhao expressed her gratitude to all involved in the forum’s success and looked ahead to more opportunities for bilateral engagement. She invited South Korean technology companies to showcase their innovations at the upcoming 2024 T-EDGE Conference in Beijing on December 6 and December 7, organized by TMTPost Group and AsianFin News & Data Group.
She also extended an invitation to participate in the upcoming Asian American Tech Summit in Silicon Valley in 2025, hoping for greater collaboration between Chinese and South Korean entrepreneurs.