[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, has agreed to cooperate with Colin Crooks, British Ambassador to Korea, to expand exchanges between Gyeonggi Province and the United Kingdom in various fields such as climate change and carbon neutrality.
On the morning of the 27th, Governor Kim met with Ambassador Colin Crooks at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office in Suwon and said, "The United Kingdom is the most exemplary and leading country in the fields of climate change and carbon neutrality," adding, "Currently, there is no region in the UK that has a sister city relationship with Gyeonggi Province, but I would like to exchange with regions that respond well to the climate change crisis."
He continued, "Climate change is an issue that requires cooperation from everyone, not just a specific country," emphasizing, "I look forward to cooperation with the UK in various fields in the future."
In response, Ambassador Crooks said, "I think it would be better to cooperate specifically with urban areas," and added, "If you visit the UK, I recommend London or the northeast region of England. The wind power industry is well developed there."
Governor Kim and Ambassador Colin Crooks exchanged opinions on various topics such as women and the population crisis, global affairs and inter-Korean relations, and the economic crisis.
Ambassador Crooks served as the British Ambassador to North Korea before his appointment to Korea in February. From 1995 to 1999, he worked as a secretary at the British Embassy in Korea and was in charge of overall arrangements during Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Korea.
This meeting was arranged at Ambassador Crooks’ suggestion to congratulate Governor Kim on his inauguration.
Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province maintained active mutual exchanges such as a memorandum of economic cooperation, sister city agreements, and dispatching public officials with the Northern England Local Government Association (an association of five local governments around Newcastle City) from 1995 to 1997, but has had no exchanges with UK regions since the Northern England Local Government Association was dissolved in 2009.
The province expects this meeting to serve as an opportunity to open new channels of exchange with the UK.
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