Incheon City Proposes Formation of 'Korea-China-Japan Tri-City Joint Council' at Gobae Market

Hwang Hyo-jin, Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs, Delivers a Letter from Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok

Hwang Hyo-jin, Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Incheon City, who is on a business trip to Japan, met with Hisamoto Kizo, Mayor of Kobe City, on the 5th and delivered a letter from Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon, containing plans to form a trilateral joint council among the three cities of Korea, China, and Japan.

Earlier, Mayor Yoo mentioned the idea of a trilateral joint council among cities of Korea, China, and Japan when he met with Tian Min'er, Party Secretary, and Zhang Gong, Mayor, during his visit to Tianjin, China, in June last year.

Deputy Mayor Hwang said, "Kobe, as a port city, has led modernization and played a pivotal role in Japan's economic development, sharing many similarities with Incheon," and proposed, "The three sister cities of Incheon, Kobe, and Tianjin should establish a joint council to exchange experiences in port redevelopment, medical and academic fields, and policies on low birthrate and aging population, and expand exchanges in aviation and culture in the future."

Hisamoto Kizo, Mayor of Kobe City, responded, "Thank you for the constructive proposal for the future of the three cities of Korea, China, and Japan," and said, "We will positively consider it to help enhance the international status of both cities."

Hwang Hyo-jin, Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Incheon City (left), and Hisamoto Kijo, Mayor of Kobe City, are posing for a commemorative photo.
[Photo by Incheon City]

On the same day, Deputy Mayor Hwang, along with officials from Kobe City, visited Shiosai Park, where the sculpture titled 'Sea Journey, from Incheon to Kobe,' donated by Incheon City in 2012, is installed, reaffirming the will for exchange and cooperation between the sister cities. The sculpture, shaped like seagulls freely flying over the sea, symbolizes mutual exchange, communication, and coexistence between the two cities.

Kobe is a port city located in Hyogo Prefecture, Kansai region, Japan, with a population of 1.49 million. Port Island, reclaimed from Kobe Port, has been developed into Japan's largest bio-cluster. Kobe Airport, opened in 2006 for domestic flights only, is preparing to open international flights by 2030.

Since establishing a sister city relationship with Incheon in April 2010, active exchanges in human resources and cultural performances have been ongoing.