Second Deputy Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon and Jose Fernandez, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, will lead the Sixth Main Economic Dialogue (SED), as Sino-American rivalry is intensifying over technological leadership, trade and security. .

The two sides are expected to have in-depth discussions on supply chain resilience, the digital economy as well as collaboration in infrastructure, energy, healthcare and science and technology.

Fernandez said earlier that teaming up for “trusted” 5G networks will be one of the main items on the meeting’s agenda, expressing the United States‘ desire to work with Korean companies on the plans. new generation telecommunications.

Digital infrastructure is a key battleground for China-U.S. Competition, as Washington remains concerned about potential security risks from what it calls untrustworthy vendors in 5G networks, including economic espionage.

The two are likely to look for ways to facilitate collaboration on large infrastructure projects, as Washington has been seen as trying to offset China’s sprawling infrastructure project, called the Belt and Road Initiative, in the region. Asian and beyond.

During his three-day trip to Seoul that began on Wednesday, Fernandez met with senior government officials from the ministries of trade and finance as well as business leaders from major semiconductor, battery, bio and of construction.

On Thursday, the senior US diplomat met with First Deputy Minister of Industry Park Jin-kyu to share his views on the envisaged “Indo-Pacific economic framework”, which would cover trade facilitation, standards for digital economy and technology, supply chain resilience, decarbonization and clean energy, the ministry said.

Fernandez also met with industry leaders in the semiconductor, battery, bio and construction sectors including Samsung Electronics Co., LG Energy Solution Ltd, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., to strengthen the business partnership between the two countries, according to industry officials.

His trip to Asia in two countries, which first took him to Japan, came as Joe Biden’s administration brought together allies and partners to build a global supply chain less dependent on China, the the world’s leading manufacturing center and a growing technological power. (Yonhap)