Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, Visits Beijing and Shanghai Municipal People's Congresses

On the 12th, met with Zhang Jiandong, Vice Chairman of Beijing Municipal People's Congress, to discuss expanding cooperation in legislative exchanges
On the 15th, met with Huang Lixin, Chairman of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, to discuss economic and development cooperation between the two cities
Visited outstanding policy sites including Beijing 798 Art District, Xiwugangyuan, Shanghai grassroots legislative liaison office, and Meituan

Visit to the Beijing Municipal People's Congress

Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, who is on an official visit to Beijing and Shanghai, visited the Beijing Municipal People's Congress and the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress to discuss ways to expand exchange and cooperation between the two cities.

First, on the 12th, he met with Zhang Jiandong, Vice Chairman of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, and agreed to ▲exchange in legislation and advanced urban management ▲strengthen exchanges between representatives of the People's Congress and council members ▲strengthen the social exchange foundation between the two cities including culture and youth exchanges ▲and further cooperate to enhance human exchanges.

Chairman Kim said, “The Seoul Metropolitan Council and the Beijing Municipal People's Congress have maintained continuous exchanges for over 30 years, and after I took office as chairman, we signed a friendly cooperation MOU between the two councils even during the COVID-19 situation to further strengthen our cooperative relationship. The development of Seoul and Beijing, the capitals of Korea and China respectively, is directly linked to the development of both countries, and I hope that active exchanges between the two legislative bodies will contribute to the happiness of citizens and the development of bilateral relations.”

Vice Chairman Zhang Jiandong said, “Through past exchanges, we have contributed to the development of the sister city relationship between Seoul and Beijing,” and added, “I hope that through friendly cooperation between the two legislative bodies, we will continue to play a leading and exemplary role in promoting mutual understanding.”

Visit to the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress

On the 15th, he met with Huang Lixin, Chairman of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, to discuss cooperation for the development of the two cities, including the economy.

Chairman Kim said, “There is a saying that to see China's past, go to Xi'an; to see the present, go to Beijing; and to see the future, go to Shanghai. We will solidify exchanges and cooperation between legislative bodies so that the development experience of Shanghai, China's number one economic city, and Seoul's development know-how can be shared.”

Chairman Huang Lixin said, “Korea and China have very deep historical ties, such as the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea being located in Shanghai,” and added, “Recently, exchanges between Seoul and Shanghai have been expanding in construction and housing sectors, and I hope to expand cooperation in more diverse fields.”

The Seoul Metropolitan Council delegation visited the Beijing 798 Art District and Shougangyuan site, which transformed military factories and steel plants from the industrialization era into eco-friendly cultural spaces and MICE industry policies. In Shanghai, they visited grassroots legislative liaison offices to hear about residents' participation in legislation and also visited Meituan, an e-commerce platform company, to learn about platform operations and regulatory response policies.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council delegation concluded their 4-night, 5-day official schedule with a visit to the Shanghai Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea building. Accompanying the visit was Lee Chi-woo, great-grandson of independence activist Lee Si-young, who served as the first Minister of Justice and Finance of the Shanghai Provisional Government and founder of the Shinheung Military Academy.

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