[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Andong City in Gyeongbuk announced on the 24th that it held a video conference with officials from overseas sister and friendship cities on the 22nd as part of non-face-to-face urban diplomacy activities in response to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
This video conference was planned to continuously promote exchange and cooperation with overseas sister and friendship cities through online methods, and to actively pursue practical exchanges such as youth exchanges and cultural events between the two cities once the COVID-19 situation eases.
Starting with a meeting with Pingdingshan City in China, a sister city, video conferences with international exchange officials will continue in the order of Jinan City and Xi'an City in China, Sagae City and Takayama City in Japan, and Holon City in Israel until the end of October.
During the video conference with Pingdingshan City held on the 22nd, broad opinions were exchanged on this year's exchange issues and next year's exchange projects in a friendly atmosphere. Pingdingshan City has been a sister city of Andong for 20 years.
In the upcoming video conferences, mutual opinions will be exchanged regarding the creation of Andong Park in Jinan City, the construction of Andong Elementary School in Xi'an City, sports exchanges with Sagae City, cultural exchanges with Takayama City, and youth exchanges with Holon.
An official from Andong City stated, "Although face-to-face exchanges such as mutual visits with overseas sister and friendship cities were suspended due to the COVID-19 situation this year, we are making efforts to strengthen continuous exchange and cooperation relationships without letting go of the ties even in difficult times through medical supplies support, delivery of citizen support videos, and hosting photo exhibitions of sister and friendship exchange cities."
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