On September 27, the 12-member delegation of the Liaoning Province Government led by Communist Party Secretary Li Keqiang is officially visiting Gyeonggi Province. 

The visit is known to be part of the efforts made by the Chinese central government to develop three provinces in the Northeastern part of the country, i.e. Liaoning, Jilin and Heilungkiang, as leading economic force for the country. This is Secretary Li Keqiang’s first official visit to Gyeonggi Province since his inauguration in December 2004. In December 2001, Wen Shizhen became the first Communist Party Secretary of the same province to visit Gyeonggi Province. 

During their stay in Korea, the delegation will visit the “Cultural Village” in Naechon-ri, Icheon, Samsung Electronics, and Rural Development Administration. It is reported that the Cultural Village was included in the itinerary in connection with the party secretary’s special interest in looking at modern-day households in rural areas of Korea. 

Gyeongi Province and Liaoning Province has built solid friendly and cooperative relations since establishment of sisterhood ties in October 1993. This time, the delegation from the Liaoning Province plans to publicize the central government’s newly adopted policies concerning refurbishment of dilapidated industrial bases in three leading provinces in Northeast region of the country and engage in in-depth discussions on strengthening the existing ties between the two provinces of Korea and China. 

The two provinces has been engaged in a wide variety of exchanges and cooperation in economic, cultural, academic and sports sectors, in addition to reciprocal dispatch of delegations and officials. 

Located on the Liaoning Peninsula of China, Liaoning Province has a population of 42 million. It is conveniently located to be linked with Russia, Europe and other parts of Asia. It also has high potential for economic growth. The leadership of China is pushing ahead with the plan to develop the nation’s economy with the focus on four major regions, i.e. three leading provinces in Northeast region, including Liaoning, the Yangtze River Delta, the Beijing-Tianjin-Pan Bohai Bay area and the Pearl River Delta area. 

Mr. Li Keqiang (48) became the first secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Youth Corps at the age of 38 and rose to major positions, including Governor and Party Secretary of Hunan Province. He is concurrently the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Liaoning Province. He is also regarded as a dark horse for the position of Prime Minister of China as a fifth-generation group of leaders, along with Bo Xilai (China Business Department Minister and former Governor of Liaoning Province). 

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office expects to bolster the existing relations in economic cooperation with Liaoning Province on the occasion of Mr. Li Keqiang’s visit this time. The province has played a leading role in China’s development in heavy chemistry and heavy industry and has high growth potential, being rich in natural resources.