Jilin, Gangwon-do celebrate 25th anniversary of relationship

A conference on economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges was held in Changchun, capital of Jilin province, on June 26 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of friendly relations between Jilin province and Gangwon-do in South Korea.

Jing Junhai, deputy secretary of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee and governor of Jilin province, and Choi Moon-soon, governor of Gangwon-do in South Korea, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony, where five cooperation agreements and a joint declaration were signed. They reached agreement on fields such as advanced equipment manufacturing, the ice and snow industry, health and medicine, and cultural tourism.

Jing welcomed the distinguished guests and thanked everyone who had offered long-term support to Jilin. He said that China and South Korea are good neighbors. Since 1994 when Jilin first established friendly relations with Gangwon-do, the two places have significantly strengthened cooperation and communications. The joint declaration marked the beginning of a new chapter in their relations.

Jing said that Jilin was located at the geographic center of Northeast Asia and is an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative. The province aims to integrate policy, opening-up, and industry and become a beacon of openness and cooperation. He expected the two sides to strengthen their partnership and focus on industrial cooperation and ecological tourism.

According to Choi Moon-soon, much has been achieved in terms of the economy, tourism, and culture since the establishment of friendly relations between the two areas. He hoped that a stronger strategic alignment, better interconnectivity, extensive industrial cooperation, and advanced cultural and educational exchanges would help promote prosperity and development in the Northeast Asia Economic Circle.