Pyeongtaek City Holds 20th Anniversary Event for Friendship Exchange with Matsuyama City, Japan

Pyeongtaek City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 22nd that it held a commemorative event over three days from the 18th to the 20th with a visiting delegation from Matsuyama City, Japan, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their friendship exchange.

The Japanese Matsuyabashi delegation, visiting Pyeongtaek City to celebrate the 20th anniversary of friendly exchange and cooperation, is taking a commemorative photo with Pyeongtaek City officials including Mayor Jeong Jang-seon.
[Photo by Pyeongtaek City]

The visiting delegation consisted of 36 members from various sectors, including Noshi Katsuhito, Mayor of Matsuyama, Hara Shunji, Chairman of the Matsuyama City Council, Kawahara Seiki, Chairman of the International Exchange Association, and members of the Matsuyama-Pyeongtaek Friendship Association. The city explained that it conducted various events such as the 20th anniversary friendship exchange ceremony and participation in the Pyeongtaek Port Marathon with the delegation.

Jung Jang-seon, Mayor of Pyeongtaek, said, "I hope the friendship between the two cities, which has lasted for 20 years, will continue and expand further to become good partners contributing to each other's development." He also requested, "I ask for special attention when Pyeongtaek citizens visit Matsuyama." Mayor Noshi Katsuhito of Matsuyama responded, "I deeply felt the depth of 20 years of friendship again, and I will do my best to develop the relationship between the two cities in various fields such as economy and culture."

During the event period, a 'Japanese Culture Week' was also held, broadly introducing Japanese culture through traditional performances and experience programs. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the exchange, an economic exchange reception hosted by the Matsuyama Chamber of Commerce was held, where the Pyeongtaek Chamber of Commerce and Pyeongtaek businesspeople participated to discuss cooperation plans to expand the network between companies in the two cities.

Pyeongtaek City and Matsuyama City have continued exchanges in various fields such as youth exchange, dispatching athletes to the Pyeongtaek Port Marathon and Ehime Marathon, dispatching public officials, private soccer, and children's art exhibitions since establishing their friendship exchange in October 2004. In May of this year, exchanges between the city councils of the two cities were also conducted.

Mayor Jung said, "Through this 20th anniversary friendship exchange commemorative event, we reaffirmed the long-standing trust and cooperative relationship between the two cities," adding, "This commemorative event will be an important stepping stone for continuous development in the future."