Jeong Ha-young, mayor of Gimpo, South Korea: What can the city do to promote South Korea-China friendship?
China News Service Seoul, November 4 Title: South Korea Gimpo Mayor Jeong Ha-young: To promote South Korea-China friendship, what can the city do?
China News Service reporter Liu Xu
China and the ROK will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year. On September 15, 2021, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited South Korea. In his meeting with ROK President Moon Jae-in, Wang Yi expounded three enlightenments on the development of Sino-ROK relations in the past 30 years, stressing that China and ROK are geographically close, culturally connected, and economically complementary, and that cooperation between the two countries is both natural, geographical, and humane. It is necessary to strengthen and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and make it a ballast stone and anchor of stability for the steady development of Sino-ROK relations.
In addition to intergovernmental cooperation, direct exchanges between cities and people are also an important driving force for the development of China-ROK relations. Jeong Ha Yong, mayor of Gimpo, South Korea, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency's "East and West Question", introducing the development status and planning of Gimpo City, emphasizing the important role played by the city in promoting friendly exchanges between South Korea and China, and looking forward to establishing closer ties with Chinese cities after the epidemic.
The interview transcript is summarized below:
China News Service: When it comes to Gimpo, everyone often thinks of "Gimpo International Airport", can you please give a brief introduction to the development status and planning of Gimpo City?
Zheng Xiayong: Chinese friends and people from all over the world enter Korea through Incheon International Airport or Gimpo International Airport, and Gimpo City is a city close to Gimpo International Airport. Although the population is only 500,000, Gimpo is already the 18th largest city among South Korea's 226 local governments. Gimpo is known as the "Water City", which is connected by water, land and air, and is adjacent to the South Korean capital, and is also the closest and bordering military strategic place to North Korea.
Ironically, at the junction of South and North Korea, Gimpo City has a high-quality natural ecological reserve. Because in the 70 years since the north-south split, the demilitarized zone has not allowed people to enter and leave freely, so the local natural ecology has been completely preserved. At present, we have built the "Aiyufeng Peace and Ecological Park" here, which was officially opened on October 7 this year. We hope that people who yearn for peace will be able to visit and feel the importance of peace, jointly build it into a tourist destination for peace, and become an important space for North-South dialogue and explore the development prospects of the peninsula in the future.
Zheng Xiayong. Photo by Liu Xu, a reporter of China News Service
China News Service: What impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on urban development? In the face of the "post-epidemic" era, what are gimpo city's preparations?
Zheng Xiayong: At present, the whole world is suffering from the new crown pneumonia epidemic, and the industry that has been most directly affected by the new coronavirus and the industry that has been most affected by the new coronavirus is the tourism industry, which I believe everyone can feel. In South Korea, for example, the epidemic has led to a sharp decline in the number of foreign tourists entering the country, and although Gimpo city has not yet become a world-renowned tourist city, it has also been directly or indirectly affected. Although the government has provided various support work for those engaged in the tourism industry, support alone will not solve the problem, and I believe that the tourism industry can only be revitalized if the COVID-19 epidemic is ended as soon as possible.
Like China, South Korea is also vigorously promoting the prevention of COVID-19, and the Korean government and local governments are making every effort. However, the implementation of the epidemic prevention policy is more painful and difficult for the public, especially small businesses, so I believe that vaccination should be carried out quickly to reduce the pain and burden of the public as soon as possible.
Although the crisis of COVID-19 still exists, my motto is "Open the way to the mountains and build bridges in the water". In the face of the crisis, we must respond to the epidemic in accordance with the government's procedures on the one hand, and on the other hand, we must work to restore economic development. At present, development plans such as the construction of industrial parks and the creation of employment opportunities in Gimpo City are steadily underway. Gimpo is not only a place where people live, but also a place with a full range of culture, economy and jobs, especially the geographical advantages near Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport, which give us a broad prospect. It is understood that many Chinese friends are interested in Korean beauty and medical treatment, so Gimpo City is also promoting the development of the medical and beauty industry while building infrastructure. We have also produced Chinese travel maps and guides, hoping that more Chinese friends can visit Gimpo.
China News Service: Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and south Korea, how do you view China-ROK cooperation and the future?
Zheng Xiayong: When people think of the peninsula, people always think of words such as "tension" and "division", which is actually not the intention of the government and the people. Personally, I believe that we should interact with neighboring countries and take the initiative to actively deal with the international situation.
Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China, and I hope that the two countries will achieve common prosperity and that South Korea can develop into the future through various channels such as economic cooperation and cultural exchanges with China, the world's most populous country. I am willing to do my part to make a difference.
It is worth mentioning that Gimpo City and Heze City, China are sister cities, and have long carried out activities such as civil servant exchange work and youth exchange. Gimpo is a city with deep feelings for China, and it is hoped that this exchange will expand not only with Heze City, but also to the Chinese government and other local governments. I hope that Chinese friends will pay more attention to Gimpo.
Data map: Heze Caozhou Peony Garden, all kinds of peonies show their beauty. Photo by Zhao Xiao
China News Service: You just mentioned that Gimpo City and Heze City are sister cities. What is the role of sister cities in promoting urban development?
Zheng Xiayong: Gimpo City and Heze City formed a sisterly relationship in February 2006. Previously, the two cities had carried out active exchanges such as international art exchange exhibitions, youth delegation exchanges, civil servants exchanging work with each other, and sending economic envoys, but since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, it has been practically impossible to conduct direct visits or contacts. However, non-face-to-face exchanges between the two cities continued, establishing mutual friendship and cooperation. At the end of January this year, Zhang Lun was elected mayor of Heze City, and Gimpo City sent a video of congratulations on his inauguration with joy; in addition, the mayor of Heze also sent us a congratulatory video of "Gimpo Citizens' Day" on April 1, and the two cities shared joy in matters large and small.
China News Service: On September 15 this year, the China-ROK Cultural Exchange Year officially kicked off. What is the role of city cooperation in promoting the development of China-ROK relations?
Zheng Xiayong: We sincerely welcome the arrival of the "Year of Korean Chinese Exchanges". Between two neighbouring countries, mutual respect and communication are more important than anything else. Without recognition and respect for each other's countries, it is really difficult to communicate between cities.
Compared with government cooperation, where national interests are intertwined, exchanges between local governments are relatively relaxed, and exchanges and cooperation can be achieved through a more free and open mind. On this basis, the understanding and cooperation between the two countries will be further enhanced.
Taking Gimpo City and Heze City as an example, understanding and respecting each other's society, culture and emotions, and continuing to carry out various exchanges such as mutual exchanges of civil servants, youth delegations, economic envoy groups, and exchanges of cultural and artistic practitioners will become a strong backing for the development and cooperation between the two countries.
Starting in October this year, Gimpo City will promote non-face-to-face international exchanges among young people. We plan to use activities such as world citizen education and world climate change as an opportunity to communicate through online platforms. All in all, I believe that exchanges between international cities are a necessary strategy to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and it is also the only way to build friendly relations between the two countries under mutual understanding and resonance. (End)
Respondent Profiles:
Jung Ha-Young is the mayor of Gimpo, South Korea. He graduated from the Department of Biology of Inha University in 1985 and was the policy director of the "Gyeonggi Federation of the National Farmers' Federation" from 1993 to 1994. From 2003 to 2005, he was the Co-Executive Chairman of the "Gyeonggi-do School Meal Improvement and Ordinance Campaign Headquarters". Later, he served as vice chairman of the Gimpo City Council, vice chairman of the "Democratic Party Special Education Committee" and the "National Agriculture and Fisheries Committee". In 2018, Zheng Xiayong was elected mayor of Gimpo City, and his policy was to "make citizens happy and double the value of Gimpo".
Source: China News Network