○ Gyeonggi Province signed a sisterhood agreement with Jiangsu Province, China’s second-largest provincial economy, in June 2023.
– Governor Dong Yeon Kim and Jiangsu Party Secretary Xin Changxing agreed to form a working-level group for structured and systematic cooperation.
○ Gyeonggi Province International Cooperation Director General visited Jiangsu Province to follow up on the sisterhood agreement.
– A joint consultative body was established between the two regions, and the first official meeting was held.
○ Practical cooperation to be expanded in youth exchange, joint agricultural technology research, healthcare, climate and environmental initiatives, and economic and trade affairs.

On March 27, Gyeonggi Province and Jiangsu Province—China’s second-largest provincial economy—agreed to establish a joint consultative body, a working-level platform for cooperation across key sectors including economy, agricultural technology, healthcare, and climate and environmental issues. The two sides also agreed to hold regular annual meetings through this body.

This initiative follows the sisterhood agreement signed in June 2023, when Governor Dong Yeon Kim met with Jiangsu Party Secretary Xin Changxing during the latter’s visit to Gyeonggi Province. At that time, Governor Kim proposed the formation of a working-level group to systematically strengthen cooperation between the two regions.

Gyeonggi Province International Cooperation Director General Park Keon-Kyun met with Jiangsu Province Foreign Affairs Director General Sun Yi at the latter’s offices in Jiangsu on the afternoon of March 27. The two officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Joint Consultative Body between the People’s Republic of China’s Jiangsu Province and the Republic of Korea’s Gyeonggi Province and agreed to identify and implement concrete and practical cooperation projects.

Under the MOU, Gyeonggi Province and Jiangsu Province will hold one joint consultative meeting annually. The meetings will be led by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government’s International Cooperation Bureau and the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government’s Foreign Affairs Office, with relevant departments from both sides participating. Additional meetings may also be held as needed to address current issues in either region.

At the inaugural joint consultative meeting held on the same day, Gyeonggi Province and Jiangsu Province discussed a wide range of practical cooperation initiatives, including: launching a new youth exchange program involving mutual visits by students and training programs for invited government officials; strengthening joint research in agricultural technology; resuming training programs for Jiangsu medical professionals as part of healthcare cooperation; expanding environmental cooperation on climate change, including an invitation for Jiangsu to participate in the International Clean Air Forum scheduled for this September in Gyeonggi Province; introducing a business exchange support program between Gyeonggi and Jiangsu companies through the Gyeonggi Business Center (GBC) in Shanghai; and deepening local-level exchanges between Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province and Yancheng City in Jiangsu Province

Jiangsu Province is one of China’s top regions in terms of GDP and hosts a significant presence of Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, LG Electronics, Hankook Tire, and Kia Motors.

Jiangsu is also considered a symbolic region in Korea-China relations. It was the place of study for Choe Chi-won, a renowned scholar from Korea’s Silla Dynasty, and in 2007, the Chinese government established the Choe Chi-won Memorial Hall, the first commemorative hall in China dedicated to a foreign national. In addition, Jiangsu is home to the Korean Provisional Government Archive Hall in Zhenjiang, where key leaders of Korea’s independence movement, including Kim Gu, once stayed and carried out anti-Japanese resistance activities.

Gyeonggi Province International Cooperation Director General Park Keon-Kyun stated, “Gyeonggi Province and Jiangsu Province are key economic regions representing Korea and China, respectively. Since 2023, we have steadily prepared to deepen our friendship. Following last year’s meeting between our top leaders, the relationship was elevated to a sisterhood agreement, and the subsequent establishment of the joint consultative body reflects the strong and substantive cooperation between our regions.” He added, “We expect this partnership to serve as a model for exemplary local-level exchange and cooperation, and as a catalyst for advancing Korea-China relations to a new level.”

Jiangsu Province Foreign Affairs Director General Sun Yi responded, “We hope to continue holding regular meetings of the Gyeonggi–Jiangsu joint consultative body, uncovering the full potential of bilateral cooperation and promoting meaningful exchange in areas such as the environment, healthcare, and public administration.” He continued, “In addition, we look forward to organizing diverse youth exchange activities in various formats and themes, so that our regions can jointly shape a bright and friendly future.”