South Korea will host an international convention attended by Chinese entrepreneurs next week in Seoul as part of its efforts to forge closer ties between South Koreans and Chinese entrepreneurs, the convention's organizers said Thursday.

The 8th World Chinese Entrepreneur Convention (WCEC), which is to be held in Oct. 10-12, is expected to bring together 3,000 South Korean and Chinese entrepreneurs from 29 countries and regions, according to a reporting material issued by South Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE).

The biannual event was firstly held in Singapore in 1991, aiming to strengthen cooperation among Chinese business people across the world.

The MOCIE, one of the organizer and key supporter of the convention introduced in the reporting material that the WCEC will offer various programs and chances to promote business relations between local and Chinese entrepreneurs.

The programs are including information technology, biotech and culture and contents technology forums.

The other organizer of the WCEC is (South) Korea Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"South Korea is the only country has no 'China Town', but won the host of the WCEC," said Lee Jae-hoon, deputy minister of the MOCIE in a press conference held earlier in the day, adding "We hope the convention will forge between understanding between world Chinese entrepreneurs and local business people."

The ministry also said 150 Chinese and 600 South Koreans, among the registered, are expected to negotiate business deals on the sidelines of the convention.

The organizers also hopes the convention will provide opportunity for Chinese business people around of the world to know South Korean market, and then make investment here.

During the convention, nine South Korean provincial governments and three free economic zones will make presentations of 18 projects to attract potential investors.

The South Korean government was leading the organizing work of this year's WCEC for Chinese community here is not strong enough.

There are only less than 20,000 overseas Chinese living in South Korea, and most of them are engaging in operating restaurants and small business.

Yuan Guodong, chairman of the Organizing Committee of the WCEC, also delivered his hope at Thursday's press conference that the Chinese community could find chances to develop and play more active role in South Korean economy.

Source: Xinhua