Wang Xianmin: Gwangju’s New Chinese Consul-General Strengthens Chinese-Korean Relations
“Amity between people holds the key to the sound relations between states. Friendship between people is the foundation of the relationship between the countries.”
This Chinese saying expresses the intentions and vision of Wang Xianmin, the new ConsulGeneral for the Chinese Consulate-Generalin Gwangju.
On January 5th, 2014, Gwangju News met Wang inside the Chinese Consulate-General to conduct his very-first interview with any Korean news source. At the time, Wang was 14 days into his journey in Gwangju and thrilled for the new experiences he knew would come. “I pleasantly find that Gwangju is a very livable city with a beautiful environment, having a deeper cultural breadth and a unique diet culture.”
The similarities Wang has found between China and Korea provide him with a certain sense of home. “There are similar manners and customs here. People respect the aged and love the young. Civility, diligence and thriftiness: they are the same as with the Chinese.”
Wang is from China’s Shandong province, deemed as the birthplace of Confucian philosophy and a province “facing” the Bohai Sea, across from Korea. Wang stated that Shandong’s legacy as a famous port for foreign exchanges is still utilized by Korea. “Thousands of Korean businesses are investing in Shandong, which reflects and confirms the enormous potential for a Sino-Korea friendship and cooperation,” he further explained.
Wang’s previous background speaks for itself. “I have worked at the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong SAR of China, the Chinese mission to the United Nations in New York City and served as the Chinese Vice Consul General in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.”
Among his favorite experiences were those while serving at the United Nations in New York City. Wang said that at a younger age, he enjoyed the interaction with individuals representing different countries, finding both the work and urban lifestyle quite attractive. His past posts and numerous official visits to other countries are all what he considers being “rich,” as he now will “enjoy this rare opportunity to enjoy different cultures and lifestyles” in Gwangju.
Wang’s main responsibility is supervising the Chinese Consulate-General‘s operations that serve both the Chinese and international communities. For the Chinese citizens, Wang will help the Consulate still provide consular protection, travel documents and other relevant services for those living in this Korean district. The Chinese Consulate–Generalalso provides Visa services for Koreans and international members to visit China for business purposes, sight-seeing excursions and cultural exchanges.
According to Wang, Sino-Korea relations were firmly established in 1992, as bilateral relations strengthened through their past and current cooperative partnership. Wang highlighted the health of the relationship. “Especially after President Park Geun-hye’s highly successful state visit with Chinese leaders in July 2013, the leaders of our two countries have outlined a blueprint for bilateral relations from strategic heights and high-level programs.”
Wang supported his statements with released statistics. “In 2012, our bilateral trade volume amounted to 256.3 billion dollars, the total investment amounted to more than 55.9 billion dollars, personnel exchanges notched up 7.3 million ‘person-times’ and 830 regular civil-aviation flights have shuttled passengers between our two countries. Even in Gwangju, we have two to four flights to China every week.”
According to Wang, those statistics affirm a friendly, cooperative and win-win relationship between China and Korea. Wang predicted the to-be-released numbers for 2013 will have a higher growth than what is on record for 2012.
Wang already appreciates the solidarity and cooperation he has found among the Korean people. “Korea is a nation state with a strong sense of national and cultural identity. Unity is the national characteristic of Korea which supported this country in surviving the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and 1998,” he said.
According to a CRS Report for Congress written by Dick K. Nanto published soon after the economic events, multiple Asian countries defending their currencies by raising interest rates led the value of the Korean won to drop so dramatically that investors quickly sold Korean stock, beginning on October 28, 1997. While Korea took out loans, elected Kim Dae-jung as President and took measures to have the stock market return to normality, Wang was working in Hong Kong, aware of the meltdown occurring in Korea, as well as in his own city. Still during this time, Wang recalled his interactions and observations of Koreans as being friendly while overcoming these financial challenges.
Korea’s Gwangju and China’s Guangzhou share more than the same pronunciation. Sister cities since 1996, Wang stated that the two cities have maintained effective communication with each other. “Both sides send municipal administrative delegations to visit each other at their convenience every year. Guangzhou is one of the economic centers for Southeastern China and Gwangju is the central city of Southwest Korea, so there is still a great potential for more cooperation in economic, cultural and education exchanges between these two cities.”
Wang has even suggested plans for having Gwangju and Guangzhou increase their cooperation on multiple levels and further develop their already-existing economic, trade and cultural exchanges. Wang knows these Asian sister cities will continue strengthening their bond with the full support of the cities’ two central governments.
Wang’s emphasis in promoting the relations of the two sides follows this principle: “There is no best, only better.” In addition to Guangzhou, Wang listed China’s cities of Luoyang and Changzhi as having established friendly relations with Gwangju. Supporting what has already been established through further communication is one of Wang’s major objectives while working in Korea.
Wang has also pinpointed areas for improvement, starting with those who are not from China. A Visa service center has been established. Also, China and Korea intend to work together during March’s Cultural City of East Asia 2014, held in Gwangju. Wang additionally expects that the 2015 World University Games in Gwangju will be an opportunity for Korean and Chinese athletes and fans to unite through competitive sports.
After these events have passed, Wang will still aspire to enhance the relations between the Chinese and Koreans by hosting the introduction of each other’s cultures, through existing organizations and various initiatives.
Wang was first introduced to the Gwangju International Center (GIC) through Gwangju News. Wang values and looks forward to supporting the GIC. “We are very happy to see that the GIC has done highly effective work to promote understanding by communicating with people from different countries. We also can say that the GIC is a stage or a window for introducing China and Korea to each other.”
Wang has invited GIC and GN staff members to his Appointment Ceremony Reception on January 21st, and plans to help organize both exhibitions and host performances to further contribute to cultural exchanges between China and Korea. Wang wishes the GIC continued success in its future endeavors, especially after the GIC moved to its new location on January 16th and with all its planned activities in 2014.
Wang has said his mission’s purpose is to “carry out a set of methods to make a comfortable, convenient environment for the Chinese people living and studying in Gwangju.” With the interests of the Chinese first, Wang plans to help Chinese citizens see more of Korea through the best means possible.
First and foremost, Wang expressed the hope of having Chinese citizens know that their consulate services exist to protect their legitimate interests. Second, Wang sees the need for more precautionary advertising to be made available for Chinese citizens, in order for there to be understanding and respect for the local Korean habits and customs. Third and finally, by acknowledging and following the first two means, Wang knows Chinese citizens will be enlightened “to make cooperation and be happy together with the local people.”
While working and living in a Korean city, Wang also desires to uphold and apply another philosophy from his country. “Gentlemen seek harmony, but not uniformity, that is to say, seeking common points while reserving differences,” he paraphrased. Wang wishes his new friends from around the globe to learn and respect other nations’ cultures while living in Gwangju.
Mutual similarities have bridged what differences separate China from Korea, including this year’s Chinese New Year for the Chinese, and Lunar New Year for Koreans. Wang mentioned that the Year of the Horse ushers in power, speed, success, health and goodwill, as “the Horse that achieves immediate victory. We wish that the Year of the Horse brings good wishes, happiness, and health to the people of the Gwangju.”
With a hearty laugh, Wang emphasized his giving spirit by expressing the hope that the New Year will also bring those from Gwangju, those from China and those from around the world, a lot of money. Wang joyfully desires all Korean and international residents living in Gwangju to experience harmony, peace and happiness in their lives.
To Gwangju News readers, Wang expressed his greetings and appreciation to now having so many friends. Looking towards the future, Wang also hoped that all goes well with the preparations and the competitions at the 2015 World Universities Games.
Without hesitance during this interview, Wang also stated his peace and contentment with his stay in Gwangju. “I am sure that I will adapt easily to living here and savor the inner magic of the city as soon as possible.”