From July 7 to 11, 2026, Professor Tu Xinquan, Dean of the China Institute for WTO Studies at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), led a delegation of 10 faculty members and students to South Korea for the fourth edition of the CIWTO Elite Talents Program. During the visit, the group engaged in academic exchanges at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of International Studies and the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), holding in-depth discussions on bilateral relations and economic and trade developments between China and South Korea. The team also visited cultural landmarks including the National Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea, gaining first-hand exposure to Korean traditional culture and broadening their international perspectives through an integrated approach of learning and experiential discovery.

The study tour aimed to deepen the participating Chinese and international graduate students’ understanding of global trade governance and China–Korea economic relations. Through direct academic dialogue with scholars from Korean universities and think tanks, the program enabled faculty and students to gain a more comprehensive view of frontier trends in regional economic cooperation, identify opportunities for bilateral trade collaboration, and expand their academic horizons and professional research capabilities.

Engaging with Top Institutions on Global Trade Frontiers

During the visit, the delegation was invited by Professor Ahn Dukgeun to join a seminar at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of International Studies on the theme “New Trends in Global Trade and China–Korea Trade Relations.” Professor Ahn, a specialist in international trade law and policy at SNU’s Department of International Relations, brings a distinguished background spanning economics, law, and global trade policy, complemented by extensive government experience—including service as Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy and as Korea’s Chief Trade Negotiator. His deep involvement in shaping national economic policy makes him one of the country’s most influential authorities on trade matters. The seminar was also attended by Professors Lee Hyo-young and Yoo Ji-young from the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, along with researchers and doctoral students from SNU. Participants exchanged views on shifts in the global trade landscape, the semiconductor industry, and complementary industrial structures between China and South Korea.

Professor Ahn welcomed the UIBE delegation and shared his expert perspectives on the evolution of global trade patterns and current China–Korea economic ties. Dean Tu then delivered a keynote address, offering an in-depth analysis of China’s position amid the ongoing restructuring of global trade, examining changes in the multilateral trading system and the shifting roles of key economies. He stressed that China does not seek to dominate global trade but remains committed to peaceful commercial cooperation, and highlighted the strong complementarity in intermediate goods trade between China and South Korea as a cornerstone of their bilateral economic relationship. The seminar provided the UIBE delegation with a more systematic and nuanced understanding of both the changing global trade environment and prospects for bilateral cooperation.

The seminar lasted nearly three hours in a lively and substantive atmosphere, with broad consensus reached on deepening academic exchanges and institutionalizing policy dialogue between the two sides. Following the session, the delegation posed for group photos with participating scholars and toured the SNU campus, appreciating the university’s rich academic heritage and distinctive intellectual environment.

During their time at Seoul National University, Dean Tu was also invited by the SNU School of Law to participate in the 2026 annual conference of the Asian WTO Research Network, where he engaged in academic discussions with scholars from across Asia on “International Economic Law at a Crossroads: The Current and Future Meaning of Multilateralism.”

Another key stop on the study tour was the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), a premier government-affiliated think tank that provides top-level policy reports on external economic affairs for Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Ministry of Economy and Finance. KIEP serves as the country’s foremost official research platform on international trade, geoeconomics, and regional cooperation. The UIBE delegation was warmly received by former China Team Head Professor Lee Sang-Hyun, current head Dr. Lee Sang-Hoon, Dr. Jiyoung Moon, and Senior Researcher Pak Jinhee for an academic exchange.

Dean Tu delivered a presentation on topics including industrial transformation, domestic macroeconomics, and China–Korea economic cooperation, analyzing both the opportunities presented by China’s industrial upgrading and the structural challenges facing its economy over the long term. He also elaborated on the development potential and division of labor in bilateral trade, emphasizing Korea’s competitive advantages in chemicals and semiconductor intermediate goods. The two sides then exchanged views on industrial upgrading pathways and macroeconomic policy coordination, and reached a shared understanding on deepening collaborative research and policy exchanges against the backdrop of a fundamentally transforming global trade order. The discussion offered UIBE faculty and students a more hands-on appreciation of international trade policy research and think tank operations. Participants concluded the session with a group photograph.

Cultural Immersion and Expanded Horizons

Beyond academic activities, the delegation visited the National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Korea to explore Korea’s traditional customs and historical heritage. They examined representative artifacts including the Silla gold crown, the Gyeongcheonsa Pagoda, and Goryeo celadon ware. These cultural visits served as a valuable complement to the scholarly exchanges, enabling participants to gain a more holistic understanding of Korea’s historical development and the social and cultural context of its economic and trade environment.

The CIWTO Elite Talents Program deepened participants’ professional understanding of current China–Korea economic cooperation and trends in global trade governance, while strengthening the institutional ties between UIBE’s China Institute for WTO Studies and Korea’s leading academic and research organizations. The program established a high-quality platform for ongoing academic exchange and joint learning between the two sides. Widely praised by participants for its academic rigor and intellectual inspiration, the program generated strong and enthusiastic feedback. Looking ahead, UIBE will continue to refine its international talent development system, leverage high-level cross-border exchange platforms, and further its commitment to cultivating globally oriented professionals equipped with expertise, cross-cultural competence, and a broad international outlook in the field of foreign economic affairs.