Gyeonggi Province Takes Global Steps for the Future

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] In his eighth term of the regional election, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is focusing on strengthening economic exchange and cooperation with major foreign countries to find vitality for the future. In particular, he has advanced an 'Innovation Alliance' to turn various global crises—including climate and economic challenges—into new opportunities, meeting with key figures worldwide. Whenever possible to work together toward the future, he has traveled anywhere in the world, and there has been a constant stream of visits from major figures and companies from various countries to Gyeonggi Province. This year alone, Governor Kim Dong-yeon has met with foreign figures from 17 countries, totaling over 80 people. Here is a review of Gyeonggi Province's global diplomatic efforts throughout this year.

■ Meeting Foreign Leaders and Promoting Economic Exchange Innovation Alliance

The most frequently met country for Gyeonggi Province's economic exchange and cooperation is the United States. Governor Kim Dong-yeon met with U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg in November of last year, and in April this year, he watched the opening game of the KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) League held in Suwon, strengthening cooperation in innovative economy through 'baseball diplomacy.' Additionally, choosing the United States as his first overseas destination that month, he formed a consensus on Innovation Alliance regarding strategic projects such as automobiles and secondary batteries with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. He also discussed expanding the Innovation Alliance for strategic industries including semiconductors and biotechnology with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

In April, he met with the Florida International Trade Delegation led by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was visiting Korea, and proposed an Innovation Alliance on strategic industries including biotechnology and solar power generation. Subsequently, he met with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego (7.14), Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (9.22), and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (10.29) to discuss cooperation in future growth industries, advanced technology fields, and a youth ladder program for international exchange among Gyeonggi young people.

In Japan, which he visited in April for investment attraction and exchange, he met with Kanagawa Prefecture Governor Kuroiwa Yuji to discuss the Gyeonggi Youth Ladder Program and cooperation in healthcare, sports, and cultural arts fields, and reaffirmed commitment to mutually beneficial development between the province and prefecture. In addition, he visited India and Thailand in July to strengthen economic cooperation with Indian Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal, as well as Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Bangkok Mayor Chadchart Sittipunt. In November, he visited China and met with He Lifeng, the Deputy Premier in charge of China's economic policy, to discuss Korea-China relations and economic cooperation.

Beyond these, he met with Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar (3.7), Vietnamese National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai (3.23), Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (5.18), former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (5.19), mayors of five cities in Peru, including Chincheros (6.23), Latvian Deputy Minister of Economy Jānis Indriksons (7.13), Israeli Ambassador to Korea Akiva Tor (9.18), Malaysian Deputy Minister of Local Government Development David Ngau Ko Ming (10.24), Polish Sejm Speaker Andrzej Jaroch (11.6), and Spanish Catalonia President Pere Aragonès (11.27) to discuss cooperation strategies in startups, smart mobility, and overall economic sectors.

■ Breaking Through Climate Crisis Through International Cooperation

Governor Kim Dong-yeon, who has taken on the role of 'Climate Governor,' emphasizes that the role of local governments is most important in responding to the climate crisis and that local governments worldwide must unite. Following this, he discussed carbon-neutral economic exchange with Australian Ambassador to Korea Catherine Raper in February, and in November visited Australia to meet with members of the Korea-Australia Economic Cooperation Committee (AKBC) and exchanged commitment to strengthen cooperation in broad fields including renewable energy, critical minerals, biotechnology, and agriculture. Notably, this led to confirming an investment intention of 5.3 trillion won from Australia's Inmark Global, a specialist investment firm in eco-friendly enterprises, including the establishment of a plastic recycled material manufacturing facility.

During his July visit to Thailand, he met with UNESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana and UNEP Asia-Pacific Regional Director Dechen Tsering to discuss environmental issues including the role of local governments in response to climate change.

At this meeting, Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated, "Unlike the Korean government's reactive stance, Gyeonggi Province is acting most proactively on climate change in the Republic of Korea. One of my nicknames is 'Climate Governor,'" demonstrating strong determination to respond to the climate crisis.

Subsequently, UNESCAP Executive Secretary Alisjahbana, who visited Korea in October to attend the 'Asia-Pacific City Forum,' visited Gyeonggi Province at Governor Kim's invitation, and environmental, social, and transparent management (ESG) officers from major and mid-sized companies in the province including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Naver also attended to discuss specific cooperation related to environmental, social, and transparent management (ESG).

Additionally, he decided to promote cooperation in climate crisis response with British Columbia (BC) Premier David Eby in May, and met with Washington State Governor Jay Inslee in August to discuss local government cooperation measures in response to climate change.

■ Exchange for Global Local Government Solidarity

Gyeonggi Province is also strengthening solidarity through contact with local governments worldwide in various fields for mutual cooperation.

In July, marking the 65th anniversary of Korea-Thailand diplomatic relations and the Korea-Thailand Mutual Visit Year (2023-2024), Governor Kim Dong-yeon discussed activation of mutual tourism exchange with Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn and held the '2023 Gyeonggi Tourism Briefing in Bangkok' to attract overseas tourists to Gyeonggi Province.

In October, to strengthen cooperation at the provincial level between Korea and China, he visited Liaoning Province, with which he formed the first sister province relationship at the broad provincial level in China, concluding a joint declaration commemorating the 30th anniversary of the sister province relationship with Party Secretary Hao Feng and Governor Li Ruicheng, and pledged comprehensive cooperation strengthening in economic, tourism, cultural, and human exchange fields. Additionally, following the resumption of Chinese group tourism, he jointly held the first tourism cooperation exchange meeting with Liaoning Province in Korea for attracting tourists, and promoted cultural exchange between representative museums of both regions, laying the foundation for enhancing practical cooperation. Following Governor Kim's visit to Liaoning Province, approximately 20 days later, an economic and trade delegation consisting of 28 companies from Liaoning Province visited Gyeonggi Province to hold a Gyeonggi-Liaoning Province Economic and Trade Seminar and achieved results in discussing measures to activate corporate cooperation.

When visiting Japan in April, Governor Kim met with representatives of the Kanagawa Branch of the Zainichi Korean Association and suggested expanding cultural, human, and private exchange beyond political relations between Korea and Japan. In November, he invited them to Gyeonggi Province again to discuss measures to promote goodwill cooperation.

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province is pushing for the creation of an International Cooperation Special Advisor position to support the governor's international cooperation policy decisions and plans to further expand exchange and cooperation in the foreign trade sector going forward.