Suwon, Jinan and Other 24 Korean and Chinese Cities Form Alliance

Including Suwon, the capital city of Gyeonggi Province, 12 cities and counties in the province have established a city alliance with 12 cities in Shandong Province in China to seek cooperation at the level of provincial governments. This is the first time a joint deliberative body has been formed between metropolitan autonomous entities.

On the 29th, Gyeonggi Province agreed with Jiang Daming, Governor of Shandong Province, on the founding of the 'Gyeonggi-Shandong City Alliance' in Qingdao, and decided to promote mutual regional cooperation between the 12 cities of the two regions.

The 'Gyeonggi-Shandong City Alliance' comprises 12 cities from both countries: Suwon, Bucheon, Goyang, Anyang, Yongin, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, Siheung, Gwangmyeong, Gwangju, Gimpo, and Pocheon from Gyeonggi Province, and Jinan, Weihai, Qingdao, Weifang, Yantai, Zibo, Dongying, Rizhao, Liaocheng, Binzhou, Tai'an, and Laiwu from Shandong Province.

These cities have previously maintained sister city relationships and friendly cooperation relationships and have been exchanging with each other. By forming a single alliance, they will promote exchange and cooperation in diverse fields including economics, culture, tourism, and sports.

The city alliance was proposed by Governor Kim during his visit to Jinan, Shandong Province in April of last year. Through this alliance, Gyeonggi Province and Shandong Province will hold regular annual meetings alternating between the two regions, and the first general assembly is planned to be held in Pocheon in September or October.

Governor Kim said at the occasion, "With the founding of this city alliance as an opportunity, we should promote exchange and cooperation at a higher level between the local governments of South Korea and China, and henceforth pursue mutual and common development by utilizing diverse regional and cultural characteristics."

In response, Governor Jiang Daming said, "I hope that exchanges between the two regions will expand further with the formation of this city alliance" and "In particular, let us upgrade the existing friendly cooperation relationship to a sister city relationship for common prosperity with Gyeonggi Province."

Meanwhile, at the signing ceremony on this day, Kim Yong-seo, Mayor of Suwon, Choi Young-geun, Mayor of Hwaseong, Song Myeong-ho, Mayor of Pyeongtaek, and other heads of local governments or deputy heads from 12 regions in the province were present, and mayors of the corresponding cities from China also attended.