Gyeonggi Province and Shandong Province in China agreed to establish a union of 12 cities from each region and to build partnerships at the local government level.

Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo and Shandong Governor Jiang Daming agreed to establish the “Gyeonggi-Shandong Union” in Qingdao City of Shandong Province, China, on May 29, 2008. The union will see the participation of numerous cities in Gyeonggi Province, including Suwon, Bucheon, Goyang, Anyang, Yongin, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, Siheung, Gwangmyeong, Gwangju, Kimpo, and Pocheon; numerous cities Shandong Province will also participate including Jinan, Weihai, Qingdao, Weifang, Yentai, Zibo, Dongying, Rizhao, Liaocheng, Binzhou, Tainan, and Laiwu.

The “Gyeonggi-Shandong Union” is the first case in which a local government in Korea has played a leading role in establishing a partnership with a local government in a foreign country. The cities participating in the union maintain sisterhood relationships or alliances with one another, and will undertake diverse activities for exchange and cooperation in a broad-range of areas including economy, culture, tourism, and sports.

The signing ceremony was attended by the heads of local government from 12 cities of Gyeonggi Province, including Suwon Mayor Kim Yong-seo, Hwaseong Mayor Choi Young-geun, and Pyeongtaek Mayor Song Myeong-ho, as well as the mayors of participating Chinese cities. Cities of Gyeonggi Province and Shandong Province will alternate the hosting of a regular annual conference of the “Gyeonggi-Shandong Union”, and the 1st annual meeting will be held in Pocheon, Korea, in September or October of 2008.

Governor Kim Moon-soo said, “The establishment of this Union will enable local governments in Korea and China to further reinforce exchanges and cooperation with each other. Our two governments will pursue co-prosperity based on the synergies found ”