As South Korea prepares to host the 2025 APEC Leaders’ Meeting, the enduring sister-city relationship between Beijing and Seoul offers a model of cross-border cooperation. The two capitals have strengthened economic, technological, and cultural ties since formalizing their partnership in 1993.
Both Olympic host cities – Beijing as the world’s first dual Olympic city and Seoul with its 1988 Summer Games legacy – share a commitment to blending tradition with modernity. The Beijing-Seoul Joint Committee, established in 2013, has driven collaboration in smart city development, green energy, and cultural tourism.
Recent initiatives like May’s “Hello, Beijing” promotion in Seoul highlighted mutual cultural appreciation through culinary showcases and tourism campaigns. This exchange coincides with growing bilateral trade, which reached $310 billion in 2023 according to customs data.
Analysts suggest such city-level partnerships create microframeworks for broader APEC cooperation, particularly in sustainable urban development and digital innovation – key themes expected at the 2025 gathering.
