On October 29, Gyeonggi Province announced that Governor Kim Moon-soo had proposed the inclusion of North Pyeongan Province of North Korea in the Friendly Exchange Meeting of South Korea, China and Japan.

According to the announcement made by Gyeonggi Province, Governor Kim made the proposal during his keynote speech at the ‘7th Friendly Exchange Meeting of South Korea, China and Japan,’ which was held at the international conference center in Shenyang Liaoning Province, China.

Governor Kim highlighted issues related to the reinforcement of transportation systems in Northeast Asia, exchanges through visits by artists, scholars and businesspeople, the reinforcement of environmental cooperation and expansion of sports exchanges for the cultivation of global human resources. Governor Kim also asked the participants to include North Pyeongan Province in the next meeting.

“The reinforcement of a transport system throughout Northeast Asia may be possible and effective if North Korea cooperates with us in this issue. I would like to propose that North Korea¡？s North Pyeongan Province, which has maintained a friendly exchange relationship with Liaoning Province, participate in the event so that it can develop into a meeting of four regions,” said Governor Kim.

After each Governor made an address, they signed a joint declaration on issues related to a continuous increase in exchanges between the three regions.

‘The Friendly Exchange Meeting of South Korea, China and Japan’ has been held every second year since 1996. Gyeonggi Province of South Korea, Liaoning Province of China, and Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan have been participating in the meeting to reinforce friendship between the 3 countries.