Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups convened government officials, entrepreneurs, and investors from both countries in Shanghai for the Korea-China Venture Startup Summit, establishing new frameworks for cross-border collaboration and launching a joint venture fund to accelerate bilateral investment.

The Summit, held at the Shanghai International Convention Center during President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to China, brought together approximately 400 participants from government agencies, startups, venture capital firms, and major corporations. The event aimed to translate diplomatic momentum into practical partnerships between Korean and Chinese venture ecosystems.

The main dialogue session centered on “Korea-China Startup Ecosystem: Beyond Connectivity, Toward Mutual Growth,” featuring founders and investors from both markets who shared perspectives on ecosystem development and future cooperation. Industry leaders from prominent startups and investment institutions discussed operating experiences across borders and outlined opportunities for sustained collaboration.

Speakers emphasized the complementary nature of both ecosystems, with Korean technical talent and innovation capabilities aligning with China’s large-scale market access and substantial investment base. From the investor side, Chinese venture capital representatives highlighted Korean startups’ competitive advantages and announced plans to expand bilateral investment through global funds.

A key outcome was the Korea-China Investment Conference, which drew approximately 100 senior officials from the Ministry and leading venture capital firms. The highlight was the signing ceremony for a new Korea-China global venture fund, with Korea’s Fund of Funds committing $10 million USD (14.7 billion KRW) toward a $25 million USD (36.8 billion KRW) fund managed by a Chinese investment partner. The fund will focus significant investment on Korean startups while facilitating their expansion into the Chinese market.

The conference program included briefings on Asian investment trends, startup IR sessions targeting both markets, and panel discussions on deepening cooperation frameworks. These sessions provided strategic context for investors evaluating cross-border opportunities.

The Korea-China Business Meetup offered direct engagement between startups and investors, with approximately 150 participants conducting IR presentations, networking events, and one-on-one business matching meetings. The structured matching program is expected to help Korean startups identify Chinese partners and explore joint projects and technology collaborations.

An exhibition zone featured ten Korean startups presenting innovative technologies and products to Chinese investors and corporate partners. The demonstrations drew strong interest from attendees, while a Shanghai-based Chinese robotics company showcased a humanoid robot, underscoring the technological depth across both innovation ecosystems.

Minister Han Seong-sook emphasized that the Summit “translated the cooperative momentum created through summit-level diplomacy into concrete collaboration among startups and venture investors.” She added that “the Ministry will continue to support Korean and Chinese venture startups as they grow together and expand into global markets.”

The Ministry expects the Summit to establish a foundation for sustained Korea-China cooperation in venture investment and startup innovation, contributing to deeper ecosystem linkages and shared growth in the coming years.