Chairman Choi Hojung Officially Visits Berlin and The Hague to Strengthen Parliamentary Exchange and Cooperation

Official Invitation from Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Berlin Parliament: Visit to Germany and the Netherlands from September 21 to 29
Discussion on Expanding Exchange and Cooperation with the Federal Parliament and Berlin Parliament, Attendance at InnoTrans 2024 Exhibition
Visit to The Hague, Administrative Capital of the Netherlands, Meeting with Mayor, Inspection of Excellent Policies such as Residential-Commercial Complex and Care Farm

Choi Ho-jung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, will visit Berlin, the capital of Germany, and The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands, to discuss ways to strengthen inter-parliamentary exchange and cooperation.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council announced that it will visit Berlin, Amsterdam, and The Hague from the 21st to the 29th for a 6-night, 9-day trip.

This visit was made possible through an official invitation from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Germany and the Berlin State Parliament.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council delegation plans to meet with Gerhard Walras, Vice President of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and Ronja Kemmer, a member of the Federal Parliament, to discuss ways to expand exchange and cooperation between the Seoul Metropolitan Council and Germany.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation have closely cooperated since last year, starting with a visit to the Baden-W?rttemberg State Parliament. In April and July of this year, delegations from the German Federal Ministry of Digital Infrastructure and the Federal Parliament visited the Seoul Metropolitan Council through the foundation.

Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Council delegation will visit the Berlin State Parliament to meet with Cornelia Seibeld, Chairperson, and Dennis Buchner, Vice Chairperson, to discuss ways to promote exchange and cooperation between the two parliaments.

In particular, they plan to discuss signing a memorandum of understanding to regularize policy exchanges on transportation policy and full-time education, as well as personnel exchanges between the parliaments.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council delegation will also attend the 14th Berlin International Railway Vehicle and Transport Technology Exhibition, Inno Trans 2024. They will tour the public transportation hall, hydrogen mobility hall, and Korean pavilion to gain policy insights related to transportation policies between Seoul and Germany.

Inno Trans 2024 is the world's largest railway vehicle and transport technology exhibition held biennially, attended by leading railway industry officials worldwide, including the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure and key transportation policymakers from major countries.

Moreover, for the first time, the Seoul Metropolitan Council will visit The Hague, the administrative capital, to meet with Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague, learn about the competitiveness of The Hague, recognized as an international and peace city, and propose friendly cooperation with The Hague City.

Chairperson Choi Ho-jung is determined to strengthen friendly cooperation with Dutch cities through this visit and to carry out legislative activities that benefit Seoul.

Finally, the delegation plans to inspect excellent policy sites in Amsterdam and other locations in the Netherlands.

In Amsterdam, they will tour the Zuidas business district, a mixed-use residential and office area, and inspect outstanding care farm policies that create social value in education, welfare, and care through farm activities.

Chairperson Choi Ho-jung stated, “As Seoul gains a reputation as an international city, visits from city councils around the world to Seoul are becoming more active. Through this visit to Germany and the Netherlands, the Seoul Metropolitan Council aims to promote Seoul’s excellent policies and strengthen inter-parliamentary exchanges to mutually cooperate in solving common urban issues such as transportation and education.”