"A New Chapter of Cooperation Between the Two Regions Will Open"
Chungnam Governor Kim Taeheum (second from left) and West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi (right) signed a 'Joint Declaration for Exchange and Carbon Neutrality Realization' at the West Java Provincial Assembly building in Indonesia on the 26th. /Provided by Chungnam Province
Kim Taeheum, Governor of Chungnam Province and the current Asia-Pacific regional chair of the Under2 Coalition, an international organization for climate crisis response, has agreed to join forces with Indonesia's economic capital to realize carbon neutrality.
According to Chungnam Province on the 27th, Governor Kim, who is visiting Indonesia to pioneer overseas markets and expand exchange and cooperation, adopted a 'Joint Declaration for Exchange and Carbon Neutrality Realization' with West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi at the West Java Provincial Assembly building on the 26th.
The joint declaration includes: ▲ promoting friendly relations; ▲ actively sharing information and expanding human exchange in various fields such as culture and administration; ▲ sharing policies related to carbon neutrality and seeking cooperation; and ▲ strengthening cooperation among local governments in the field of global climate solidarity and environment.
West Java, like Chungnam Province, is pushing for the early closure of coal-fired power plants and the expansion of renewable energy generation.
Chungnam Province is currently pursuing carbon neutrality cooperation projects with West Java. The Chungnam Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, a provincial support agency and the main organization for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' official development assistance project, will support the installation of 50 electric buses, 2 charging stations, 2 eco-friendly bus stops, and 2 smart crosswalks by 2027.
Governor Kim stated, "West Java, once the center of the Sunda Kingdom, is a region leading the manufacturing, service, and apparel industries, so I believe there are many areas for mutual cooperation," expressing his expectation that "this joint declaration will open a new chapter of cooperation between the two regions."
He added, "Chungnam and West Java share the common goal of transitioning to eco-friendly energy away from coal, and we are achieving concrete and practical results together by building eco-friendly electric bus and charging infrastructure."
Governor Kim emphasized, "Korea's Doenjang and Indonesia's 'Tempe' are both made from soybeans and require fermentation over time, which is a commonality. Since the signing of the friendship and cooperation agreement in 2021, Chungnam and West Java have been deepening their partnership step by step, like a slow maturation process. Let us always move forward together as good friends and partners toward the shared prosperity of both regions."
Governor Dedi Mulyadi of West Java expressed his expectations for the joint declaration, stating, "West Java is in the process of closing coal-fired power plants and is producing electricity at low cost through renewable energy sources such as solar and hydropower."
Meanwhile, Governor Kim attended the Under2 Coalition Asia Climate Action Summit held in Singapore on the 8th, where he proposed four major measures for Asian local governments to achieve carbon neutrality.
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