Paju City Delegation Visits Gloucester City, UK

Exchanging Opinions on Various Exchange and Cooperation Projects with Gloucester City

The delegation from Paju City, Gyeonggi Province, announced on the 12th that they had completed a 4-night, 6-day schedule from the 3rd to the 8th, attending the sister city signing ceremony with their overseas sister city, Gloucester City in the United Kingdom, and held various discussions on exchange and cooperation measures between the two cities.

The Paju City delegation is attending the sister city agreement signing ceremony with Gloucester City, UK, and discussing various exchange and cooperation plans between the two cities. Provided by Paju City

Through this visit, which was made possible by the official invitation from Gloucester City, Paju City and Gloucester City reaffirmed the friendship that has continued since 2014, and decided to elevate their relationship from 'friendly cities' to 'sister cities,' thereby strengthening exchange and cooperation in more diverse fields.

Gloucester City, which began its connection with Paju through the Korean War, has numerous commemorative sites that remember Paju, such as 'Paju-gil' and 'Imjin Barracks,' making it a place where a deeper friendship can be confirmed than with any other overseas sister city of Paju.

Through this sister city agreement, Paju City expects to promote mutual joint development by advancing exchange and cooperation with Gloucester City in various areas such as history, culture, and education, and to play a significant role in expanding the foundation for international exchange and cooperation as Paju grows into a metropolitan city with a population of one million.

Meanwhile, the Paju City delegation included members from the Paju City Council, Paju Office of Education, and residents of Seolma-ri, Jeokseong-myeon, who were able to hold multifaceted discussions not only on administrative exchanges but also on various private exchange projects.

Lorraine Campbell, Mayor of Gloucester City, said, “I have precious memories of when the Gloucester City delegation visited Paju City last April and Mayor Kim Kyung-il warmly welcomed us,” adding, “This time, having the sister city signing ceremony in Gloucester City and continuing the connection with Paju City is especially meaningful.”

Gloucester City in the United Kingdom, with a history of about 2,000 years, is the capital of Gloucestershire in the South West England region and is rich in medieval heritage, including Gloucester Cathedral, a filming location for the Harry Potter movies.

Paju City and Gloucester City signed a sister city agreement (MOU) on April 22, 2016. Paju City has maintained its ties with Gloucester City through support funds for the establishment of the Korean War Museum within the Gloucestershire Soldier Museum, the construction of the Gamaksan Suspension Bridge (Gloucester Bridge in the UK), and the Seolma-ri British Military Memorial Park.

Gloucester City named the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps base as Imjin Barracks, and the path from the Gloucestershire Soldier Museum to Gloucester Docks as Paju Walk.