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Busan and Shanghai: Building Friendship Through Business! “2026 Eurasia City Diplomacy Corps” Promotes Exchange in Shanghai

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, and the Busan Global City Foundation announced that the “2026 Eurasia City Diplomacy Corps” conducted economic, youth, and cultural exchange activities in Shanghai, China, from August 24 to 26 to support Busan companies entering the Chinese market and strengthen friendship between the two cities.

Shanghai is a sister city of Busan and the first destination of this year’s City Diplomacy Corps. The delegation organized two flagship events: a business consultation meeting designed to identify practical business opportunities for Busan companies and a friendship exchange bringing together business representatives and young people.

The “Busan-Shanghai Business Consultation Meeting” was held at Hongqiao State Guest Hotel from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on August 25.

Ten Busan companies and organizations in medical tourism, K-beauty and healthcare, and food manufacturing participated in the consultation meeting. With support from the Busan Trade Office in Shanghai, local Shanghai buyers and distribution representatives attended, and each Busan company held one-on-one consultations with four to five prospective partners to introduce its products and explore opportunities to enter the Chinese market.

Before the consultations, participants were also provided with briefings on the Chinese cosmetics and food markets as well as local legal consulting. Rather than limiting the program to business consultations alone, the event integrated market information, legal advice, and buyer connections into a single process, providing practical support to help Busan companies make concrete preparations for entering the Chinese market.

Later that day, the “Busan-Shanghai Friendship Exchange” was held at Hongqiao State Guest Hotel from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Around 100 people attended the event, including members of the City Diplomacy Corps, representatives from the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai, the Korean Cultural Center, the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, local buyers, and business representatives. Representatives from the two cities shared a networking dinner and strengthened the foundation for continued cooperation in the fields of business, youth, and culture.

Ahead of the event, five young people from Shanghai were appointed as “Global Youth Ambassadors.” They are scheduled to visit Busan in November to continue mutual exchanges. A traditional Korean dance performance by Busan youth delegation members and a celebratory performance by Shanghai youth also took place, adding youthful energy and cultural enjoyment to the business exchange.

The City Diplomacy Corps also carried out field-based city diplomacy activities to experience and learn from various locations across Shanghai.

On August 24, the delegation visited the “Asian Children’s Picture Exhibition” at Shanghai Library and held a dialogue session with diplomats at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai. The business delegation also visited “Meichuang Jingjie,” an innovation platform specializing in the beauty and health industries, to examine the local industrial ecosystem and market trends.

On August 25, a delegation led by Director Song Woo-hyun and Deputy Director Jung Young-soo visited the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress and discussed ways to promote Busan-Shanghai exchange and cooperation with Deputy Director Chen Jing, Vice Chair of the Standing Committee and President of the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

On August 26, the delegation visited Lu Xun Park and the Memorial Hall of Korean Patriot Yun Bong-gil, among other sites, reflecting on the modern and contemporary history of the Republic of Korea before concluding its three-day, two-night itinerary in Shanghai.

Oh Seok-keun, Vice Mayor for Future Innovation of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “This Shanghai visit represents practical city diplomacy that connects Busan companies’ entry into the Chinese market, global field experience for young people, and friendship between sister cities.”

He added, “We hope that the relationships that began through business will develop into lasting cooperation among companies, young people, and the two cities.”