Gyeonggi Province has reached an agreement with Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan on a "Joint Declaration for Deepening Exchange and Cooperation."
On July 16, Gyeonggi Province announced that Governor Dongyeon Kim met with Yuji Kuroiwa, Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, at Dodamso in Suwon (the former governor's residence) and agreed to the "Joint Declaration for Deepening Exchange and Cooperation" to strengthen collaboration in areas of mutual interest, marking the 35th anniversary of the sisterhood between the two regions.
This meeting was a reciprocal visit following Governor Dongyeon Kim's invitation to Governor Kuroiwa during his visit to Japan two years ago.
Governor Dongyeon Kim stated, "If Kanagawa Prefecture, the center of economic innovation in Japan, and Gyeonggi Province, the economic heart of Korea, take the lead in economic cooperation, advanced exchanges, and cultural content, I believe it will become a significant foundation for mutual growth and progress not only for both regions but also for Korea and Japan as a whole." He added, "I hope that today's visit and joint declaration will serve as a momentum for closer cooperation and mutual prosperity between Gyeonggi Province and Kanagawa Prefecture, celebrating the 35th anniversary of our sisterhood, and furthermore, between Korea and Japan, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization."
Governor Kim also proposed four initiatives: inviting a Kanagawa Prefecture trade delegation to the G-Fair in October; inviting Kanagawa Prefecture experts and officials to the Gyeonggi International Clean Air Forum in September; regularizing the Gyeonggi-Kanagawa investment cooperation seminar; and jointly responding to super-aged society policies such as healthcare and bio industries.
Yuji Kuroiwa, Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, who offered congratulations on the election of President Jaemyung Lee, a former Gyeonggi Province governor, responded, "This year is a meaningful year marking the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization and the 35th anniversary of the sisterhood between Gyeonggi Province and Kanagawa Prefecture. I hope this visit will further deepen friendly exchanges between our regions," and said he would positively consider Governor Kim's proposals.
The two leaders agreed to jointly address major global issues based on achievements in ongoing cooperation in various fields such as economy, tourism, culture, and sports.
In particular, they agreed to work closely together to proactively respond to rapidly changing environments, including intensifying technological competition and tariff wars, and to further strengthen their positions as hubs of advanced industries.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Dongyeon Kim warmly shakes hands with Yuji Kuroiwa, Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, at Dodamso in Suwon (former governor's residence) on the 16th. Provided by Gyeonggi Province
Accordingly, the two regions signed the "Gyeonggi-Kanagawa 35th Anniversary Joint Declaration," pledging to continue practical and sustained exchanges and cooperation in the future.
After the meeting, the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture and his delegation, the Gyeonggi Provincial Council leadership, and key business representatives from both regions, including Samsung, ULVAC, and TOK, shared a luncheon to further discuss strengthening cooperation between Gyeonggi Province and Kanagawa Prefecture.
Kanagawa Prefecture, the second most populous region in Japan after Tokyo with a population of 9.23 million, is a key economic center with developed petroleum, chemical, electronics, and heavy industries. In 1990, it became the first region in Asia to form a sisterhood with Gyeonggi Province.
In addition to high-level exchanges, the two regions have consistently achieved tangible results through mutual dispatch of public officials, sending of provincial art troupes, and friendly matches between independent baseball teams.
Meanwhile, delegations from Gyeonggi Province and Kanagawa Prefecture will hold the "Gyeonggi-Kanagawa Investment Cooperation Seminar" at Novotel Suwon on July 17. This seminar aims to promote joint investment and seek opportunities for mutual development by strengthening cooperation between the two regions.
Global companies such as Samsung, ULVAC, and Tokyo Electron will participate, sharing their investment experiences, local market entry strategies, and network utilization cases, with expectations for practical exchanges and synergy between companies from both regions.
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