China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) is drawing close attention in the Republic of Korea as both countries seek to update their economic cooperation and explore new growth areas, ROK Ambassador to China Roh Jae-hun said on Thursday.

In an interview with China Daily, Roh said the plan is important not only because it will shape China's development, but also because of its broader impact on neighboring countries and the world.

For the ROK, he said, the plan comes at a time when the traditional model of China-ROK economic cooperation is no longer sufficient.

For decades, bilateral economic ties were largely built on a division of labor in which companies from the ROK exported intermediate goods to China, where they were assembled and then shipped to global markets. While part of that model still works, many areas now require a new approach, he said.

"We have to find a new economic cooperation model based on a more horizontal cooperation relationship," Roh said, adding that industries and policymakers in the ROK are closely studying China's plan.

He said emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, batteries, biotechnology, the digital economy, healthcare, and the silver economy could offer fresh room for cooperation as both countries seek new drivers of growth.

Roh also pointed to renewable energy as an area with strong potential, saying China and the ROK are both major energy importers and share an interest in the green transition.

China has advanced technologies and infrastructure in areas such as electric vehicles, low-carbon technologies, and solar power, while the ROK also has strengths in green transformation, he said.

With policy support and existing cooperative industrial parks in Shandong, Jiangsu, and Guangdong, companies from the two countries could jointly develop technologies and explore third-country markets, he added.

"By cooperating rather than competing with each other, we can achieve much better outcomes," Roh said.

Turning to bilateral relations, Roh said China-ROK ties have a long historical foundation and have generally moved forward since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1992, bringing substantial benefits to both sides.

The two countries, he said, should continue to consolidate the relationship, deepen mutual understanding and friendship, and ensure that cooperation brings tangible benefits to ordinary people.

"If we continue to work on that, I think the future of the relationship will get brighter and brighter," he said.

Against a complex and uncertain international backdrop, Roh said China has become a widely recognized major country with significant influence in global politics and the world economy, and that its constructive role is important for peace, stability, and common prosperity.

People-to-people exchanges are also adding momentum to bilateral ties, especially among younger generations, Roh said.

Visa facilitation measures and other supportive policies have led to a sharp rise in travel between the two countries, with two-way visits increasing by around 40 percent in the first quarter of this year, he said.

Short trips to China, including weekend visits to Shanghai and other cities, have become increasingly popular among young people from the ROK, allowing them to experience both the modern and traditional sides of Chinese culture and lifestyle.

Roh said the two countries should make better use of their geographical proximity and deep historical and cultural connections. While China and the ROK share many cultural affinities, their differences also make exchanges more interesting and meaningful, he said.

Such interactions, he added, can bring the two peoples closer and create more room for future cooperation.