Chinese tourists arrive by a cruise ship on the first day of South Korea's visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists at the port of Incheon in South Korea on September 29, 2025. Photo: VCG

Korean Air announced on Wednesday that it will launch an airfare promotion on three China-Busan routes to attract more Chinese travelers, serving as another example of accelerating China-South Korea economic cooperation. 

The promotion will run until April 30 and applies to flights departing from Shanghai (Pudong), Qingdao and Beijing to Busan, according to the information that the company shared with the Global Times.  

During the promotion, passengers booking round-trip tickets on these routes via Korean Air's official website or app can enjoy discounted fares. On top of the standard 2 percent year-round online discount, Shanghai-Busan and Qingdao-Busan routes get an extra 5 percent off, while Beijing-Busan receives an additional 8 percent off. 

China and South Korea economic cooperation accelerates, boosted by growing trade exchanges.

Samsung is welcome to seize the opportunities brought by China's continuous opening-up, strengthen its confidence and commitment to development in China, and further expand investment and cooperation in the country, said an official from China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Zheng Shanjie, head of the NDRC, made the remarks when meeting with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Tuesday. 

Zheng noted that China's economy has a stable foundation, numerous strengths, strong resilience and immense potential. The supporting conditions and underlying trend for long-term sound growth remain unchanged. China's healthy and stable development will inject more certainty and new momentum into the world, as China shares development opportunities with other countries and pursues common development. 

He stated that China has entered the implementation phase of the 15th Five-Year Plan starting this year, demonstrating the deep foundation and vibrant momentum of China's economic and social development. He expressed confidence that China can address various uncertainties with the certainty of high-quality development amid intense international competition.

China will continue to expand high-standard opening-up, persistently improve the business environment, fully guarantee national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises, and create a policy environment characterized by transparent rules and equal opportunities to share development dividends with countries around the world, Zheng said.

The NDRC welcomes Samsung to seize the opportunities arising from China's continuous opening-up, strengthen its confidence and determination in developing in China, further expand investment and cooperation in the country, and actively contribute to maintaining the stability of the global semiconductor industry and supply chain, achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, Zheng said. 

Lee said that China is an important part of Samsung's global strategy. Samsung is optimistic about the new opportunities brought by China's high-quality development and looks forward to further deepening cooperation.

These are positive signs after leaders' meeting between South Korea and China, which provides fresh impetus for improving bilateral ties, Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Amid a complex geopolitical landscape, South Korea is exploring new paths for industrial cooperation with China, which is shifting from the past competitive paradigm to mutual benefit, and it will maximize the interests of both sides, Da added.

Economic ties continue to serve as the cornerstone of bilateral relationship. For over two decades, China has been South Korea's largest trading partner, while South Korea stands as one of China's most important economic partners, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

China and South Korea can deepen cooperation in areas including semiconductors, lithium batteries, green development and the silver economy, said China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Lecheng on March 18 during a bilateral industrial cooperation ministerial dialogue in Beijing.

Li said the two countries demonstrate strong momentum and resilience, having formed a sound landscape featuring complementary advantages and deep integration, occupying an important position in the global industrial division of labor. 

The two sides should uphold open cooperation and equal-footed dialogue, jointly address global challenges, promote the healthy development of both countries' industries and achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, said Li.