Four-Day Commemorative Conference and Events Invited by Huzhou City
Adoption of Joint Declaration to Strengthen Friendly Exchange and Cooperation, Expansion of Concrete Exchanges
The Yeongam County delegation, including County Governor Woo Seung-hee, visited Huzhou City, China, a sister city, from the 13th to the 16th to strengthen the friendly relations between the two cities.
According to Yeongam County on the 20th, this visit, which consisted of a 20th anniversary sister city commemoration conference and events, visits to major facilities in Huzhou City, and youth homestays, was made at the invitation of Huzhou City.
Nineteen students from Yeongam Girls' High School participated, gaining opportunities to experience Chinese culture and promote Korean culture.
On the 13th, the county delegation held a meeting at Huzhou City Hall with Huzhou Party Secretary Chen Hao and Sun Xianlong, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Huzhou Municipal People's Congress, along with other Huzhou officials.
During the meeting, Huzhou City's past development and future projects were introduced, followed by explanations of Yeongam County's major policies and the roles and functions of the Yeongam County Council.
(On the left) Woosunghee, the governor of Yeongam-gun, is exchanging a joint declaration to strengthen friendly exchange and cooperation with Tianhao, the party secretary of Huizhou City, and shaking hands. Photo by Yeongam-gun
Afterwards, the Yeongam County delegation moved to the Kaiyuanmingdu Hotel in Huzhou City to hold the 20th anniversary sister city commemoration event.
The commemorative event opened with an exhibition of photos documenting exchanges between the two cities and proceeded with the screening of a 20th anniversary retrospective video, adoption of a joint declaration to strengthen friendly exchange and cooperation on the 20th anniversary, exchange of souvenirs, and cultural and artistic performances.
In particular, the two cities adopted a joint declaration outlining plans to expand exchanges in the fields of humanities, economy, carbon neutrality, and youth, as well as promoting exchanges between the Yeongam County Council and the Huzhou Municipal People's Congress, resolving to move toward future-oriented development and mutual prosperity.
After the commemorative event, Yeongam Girls' High School students were invited to the homes of students from their sister school, Hangzhi Middle School in China, to participate in youth homestay activities. The youths from both cities built friendships while experiencing different cultures and lifestyles.
Hong Gap-seon, vice principal of Yeongam Girls' High School, said, “I hope this visit leads to active exchanges between the two cities, allowing students to experience new cultures and strengthen their global competencies through mutual understanding.”
The delegation observed exchange activities between students of Yeongam Girls' High School and Hangzhi Middle School and discussed ways to expand exchanges in the educational field between the two cities.
As an outcome of this visit, Yeongam County cited the activation of exchanges in various fields between the two cities and the exchange of concrete plans to expand these exchanges.
Additionally, touring major facilities in Huzhou City provided many insights for the development of tourism and sports sectors in Yeongam County.
Governor Woo Seung-hee stated, “The 20th anniversary sister city commemoration event is significant in that it shared visions and plans for substantial expansion of exchanges. We will further develop the active and close exchanges between Yeongam County and Huzhou City to pave the way for future generations of both cities.”
Yeongam County signed an international sister city agreement with Huzhou City, China, in 2003 and has since continued mutual exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as dispatching goodwill delegations, student homestay visits, and economic, cultural, and sports sectors.
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