South Korea and China on Thursday agreed to begin joint research on developing a "fifth-generation" ultra-fast mobile network, officials said. 
   
The agreement, which also includes joint research projects on biotechnology, new materials and renewable energy, was signed in Beijing between South Korean Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Choi Yang-hee, and his Chinese counterpart, Wan Gang.
  

Over the next three years, South Korea and China will jointly raise 3 billion won (US$2.7 million) to fund the joint research projects, the South Korean ministry said in a statement. 
  
"I believe that South Korea and China could play a leading role in the fields of next-generation ICT (Information, Communication and Technology) through practical cooperation and partnership," Choi told the Korea-China Tech Forum in Beijing. 
   
Theoretically, the "5G" wireless technology would make mobile communications about 1,000 times faster than current fourth-generation networks. (Yonhap)