Suwon Special City and Freiburg, Germany Mark 10th Anniversary of Sister City Relationship With Pledge to Strengthen Ties

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-seong] Suwon Special City and Freiburg, Germany marked their 10th anniversary of their sister city relationship by pledging to strengthen their friendly ties through continued exchange and cooperation.

A delegation from Freiburg, led by Mayor Martin Werner Walter Horn, visited Suwon on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of their sister city relationship. The Freiburg delegation, which arrived on the 14th, began its official schedule by touring the Ilwol Arboretum with Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-joon.

Suwon and Freiburg signed an agreement that afternoon at the Ilwol Arboretum Visitor Center, agreeing to strengthen exchange and cooperation in △environment, climate change response, and energy △sports △culture and arts △youth sectors.

The two cities agreed to share best practices in sustainable policies, climate change response, and energy sectors, and to promote exchanges of related experts and technology.

They also agreed to facilitate exchanges between Suwon FC (K League 1) and SC Freiburg (Bundesliga), and to promote cultural and arts exchanges including mutual invitation performances by the two cities' municipal arts troupes and various organizations.

The two cities also agreed to operate various youth exchange and cooperation programs including short-term training, volunteer activities, and workshops for youth from both cities.

Mayor Lee Jae-joon said, "Ten years ago, Suwon and Freiburg became friends based on a shared vision of 'sustainable future environmental cities,'" and added, "Based on our long friendship, we have built better cities together."

He continued, "Today, let us take steps together to open a new 10 years," and stated, "In the future, Suwon and Freiburg will continue to walk together as trusted partners."

On the 15th, the Freiburg delegation plans to visit Gwanggyo Lake Park to inspect the Freiburg Observatory, then visit Seoseo Elementary School to observe 'Suwon's Visiting Environmental Classroom.'

In the afternoon, they will visit Suwon City Hall for a meeting with Mayor Lee Jae-joon. Mayor Lee will present Freiburg Mayor Martin Horn with a 'One-Day Honorary Mayor of Suwon' certificate.

On the 16th, they plan to visit Suwon City Integrated Safety Control Center, Samsung Innovation Museum, Suwon World Cup Stadium, Bongnyeong Temple, and Yeongheung Arboretum.

Suwon has maintained steady exchange and cooperation since signing a sister city agreement with Freiburg, known as "Germany's Environmental Capital," in November 2015.

To commemorate the sister city relationship, Suwon constructed the 'Freiburg Observatory' in Gwanggyo Lake Park in March 2019, identical in shape to the observatory located in Freiburg. The Freiburg Observatory mirrors the design of an observation tower (18m) built in Seepark Park in Freiburg in 1995.

To commemorate the 5th anniversary of their sister city relationship, the two cities agreed in 2020 to create honorary streets named after each other's cities. Freiburg named a 1.5km road in front of Europa-Park Stadion (SC Freiburg's home stadium), which opened in October 2020, as 'Suwonallee.'

Suwon named a walking path created within Gwanggyo Lake Park 'FREIBURG SPAZIERWEG.' The Freiburg walking path, centered on the Freiburg Observatory, extends approximately 1km.