Chungnam and Yangzhou, China Join Hands to Promote History, Culture, and Tourism Exchange

Chungnam Seeks Deeper Ties with Yangzhou
Governor Kim Tae-heum Proposes Sister-City Relationship and
Invites Yangzhou Delegation and Chef to Taean International Horticultural Therapy Expo

Chungnam Province is set to actively explore ways to cooperate and exchange with Yangzhou, the central city of Jiangsu Province, which boasts the second-largest economy in China, in the fields of history, culture, and tourism.

Governor Kim Tae-heum, who is currently visiting China to pioneer overseas markets, met with Party Secretary Wang Jinjiang in Yangzhou on the 23rd and emphasized the need for exchange and cooperation between Chungnam and Yangzhou.

Governor Kim stated, "Yangzhou is where Choi Chiwon, a renowned scholar from the Unified Silla period, passed the imperial examination and served as an official in the Tang Dynasty. It is also home to the shrine of Wan Yuan, the mentor of Chusa Kim Jeonghee, a calligrapher from Chungnam." He proposed, "Chungnam and Yangzhou, which share deep historical and cultural ties, should establish a sister-city relationship and promote exchanges in various fields." Party Secretary Wang Jinjiang responded positively to this suggestion.

Governor Kim also introduced the International Horticultural Therapy Expo, which will be held in Taean next year, and personally invited Party Secretary Wang, saying, "Please showcase Yangzhou's world-famous cuisine at the Expo."

On the 22nd, during a meeting with the Governor of Jiangsu Province, he also requested, "We hope a Yangzhou delegation will participate in the horticultural exhibition and that a chef will visit in person to present Yangzhou cuisine."

Although Yangzhou is smaller in area than Chungnam, it has a population of 4.58 million-more than twice as many-and is evenly developed across advanced industries such as machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, new energy, and biotechnology.

Before his meeting with Party Secretary Wang, Governor Kim visited the Choi Chiwon Memorial Hall, which was established in 2007 as China's first memorial hall dedicated to a foreigner, reflecting on its symbolic significance for cultural exchange between the two countries.

.