Gurye-gun - Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Sister City Partnership with Chinese Landowner City

20th Anniversary of Partnership: Visit to Chinese Local Branch and Commitment to Strengthening Friendly Cooperation

Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it formed a goodwill exchange delegation and visited Jizhou City, Anhui Province, China, its sister city, from the 6th to the 9th.

This visit was made upon the invitation of Jizhou City to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Gurye-gun and Jizhou City. The delegation from Gurye-gun, including County Governor Kim Soon-ho and Chairman of the County Council Yoo Si-moon, consisted of 16 representatives who visited Jizhou City.

[Photo by Gurye-gun]

At the 20th anniversary commemorative event held around Pingchun Lake in Jizhou City, the achievements of exchanges between the two cities over the past 20 years were reviewed through a video. To continue fostering mutual friendship, commemorative gifts were exchanged and a friendship tree was planted.

At the ceremony, Mayor Zhu Hodong of Jizhou City stated that Jizhou and Gurye should take the 20th anniversary as a new starting point, emphasize industrial cooperation along the path of Korea-China friendship, and deepen practical cooperation in fields such as scientific and technological innovation, modern agriculture, and cultural tourism to strive for mutual benefit and coexistence.

In response, County Governor Kim Soon-ho expressed hope that the two cities would establish closer cooperative relations, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and work toward achieving higher levels of mutual benefit and joint development.

Accordingly, the two cities agreed to join forces to resume exchanges that had been suspended due to COVID-19, including youth exchanges.

Additionally, during the visit, the Gurye-gun delegation inspected the Korea-China International Cooperation Industrial Complex, the manufacturing facility of Qimen Black Tea, one of the world’s top three black teas, and the Guhwasan Scenic Area, a center of Buddhist culture, while exploring ways to promote exchanges for the development of both cities.

Meanwhile, since signing the sister city agreement in November 2003, Gurye-gun and Jizhou City have actively promoted exchanges in various fields such as culture, tourism, education, and sports. In particular, they have contributed to the development of both cities and the promotion of Korea-China friendship through symbolic constructions (Guryejeong, Jizhoujeong), public official exchange programs, and youth exchanges.

Gurye = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yuk Mi-seok hss79@asiae.co.kr