Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, met with David Eby, Premier of British Columbia (hereafter BC), a sister province of Gyeonggi, to discuss ways for the two regions to strengthen economic cooperation in order to overcome concerns over a "tariff war." This meeting marked the fifth encounter between the two leaders.
On the 9th, Governor Kim met with Premier Eby, who was visiting Korea to attend the "Business Networking Reception" hosted by the BC government at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul. Their meeting took place at Hwaseong Haenggung Palace and Suwon Museum of Art in Suwon.
During the meeting, Governor Kim stated, "I was deeply impressed by BC's swift and bold actions in defining the Trump tariffs as an economic war and responding proactively. In particular, your decisiveness as Premier demonstrated true economic sovereignty."
He continued, "With rising security threats such as trade conflicts and the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as intensifying competition for supremacy in AI technology, intergovernmental diplomacy has become increasingly rigid. Now is the time for cooperation and response between local governments, where private sector participation and pragmatic diplomacy are possible."
He added, "Gyeonggi Province and BC have continued exchanges in various fields such as economy, culture, and education over 18 years of a deep relationship. Based on our long-standing friendship and trust, I hope we can establish a framework for global economic cooperation between local governments."
In response, Premier David Eby said, "At a time when global economic uncertainty is increasing, strengthening relationships between local governments is more important than ever. British Columbia deeply values its strong ties with Gyeonggi Province, which have been built on long-standing trust and respect."
Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province (right), warmly shakes hands with Eby, Premier of British Columbia, Canada, on the 9th at Hwaseong Haenggung Palace in Suwon. Photo by Gyeonggi Province
He especially noted, "I look forward to seeking further cooperation in the fields of technology, research, and clean energy. The future will be even brighter when we work together."
On this day, the two leaders visited Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, a symbol of reform politics in the late Joseon Dynasty, reflecting on its historical significance as a place where King Jeongjo communicated with the people and experimented with local governance. During their meeting at Suwon Museum of Art, they discussed cooperation agendas such as strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions amid tariff challenges, expanding exchanges for future generations, and sports diplomacy.
Before the meeting with Governor Kim at Suwon Museum of Art, Premier Eby viewed artworks created by participants in the Opportunity Income Project for people with disabilities.
Gyeonggi Province presented a mug made using the exhibited artworks as a gift, conveying both the value of disability art and the purpose of the Opportunity Income Project. In particular, a caricature of Premier Eby drawn by artist Jung Eunhye, a member of the "Amazing Outsider Art Center" that opened in December 2023, was personally delivered, adding special meaning to the occasion.
The Amazing Outsider Art Center is a creative and exhibition space for 11 artists with developmental disabilities, including Jung Eunhye?who is well-known for her appearance in the drama "Our Blues"?as well as Kim Nayoun, Park Jongseon, Park Jiseon, Sun Nayoun, Yoon Taeyoung, Lee Chanwoo, Jang Jinyoung, Jung Yeonjae, Pi Juhun, and Lim Woojin.
Previously, after taking office in November 2022, Premier Eby chose Korea as his first overseas destination, visiting Gyeonggi Province in May 2023. Through talks with Governor Kim, they signed a sisterhood implementation plan and explored avenues for cooperation.
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