By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Chungnam-do has agreed to expand exchanges with its sister province of Sichuan, China, to include parliamentary, administrative, and sports fields.

The provincial government said on July 16 that Chungnam-do Governor Kim Tae-heum and Tian Xiangli, chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Political Consultative Conference, discussed ways to expand public-private cooperation, revitalize exchanges in the high-tech industry, and promote parliamentary and administrative exchanges.

The main contents include exchanges between the city council and the Sichuan Provincial People's Congress and Political Consultative Conference (hereinafter referred to as the Political Consultative Conference), as well as promoting exchanges in the fields of new materials such as hydrogen energy and high-tech industries such as automobiles.

At the event, Governor Kim expressed his gratitude to Politburo Chairman Tian Xiangli and his delegation for their hospitality during her visit to Sichuan Province in June last year, and said, “Chungnam and Sichuan have become a model for local government exchanges and cooperation between Korea and China.
 

“This year, the two regions are exploring more practical international cooperation at the Chungnam-China Local Government Exchange Conference, and are continuing active exchanges in the fields of carbon neutrality and sports. We will soon establish a 'China Office' in Shanghai, and further promote economic cooperation and investment between the two countries, as well as local diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges.”

Kim, who also announced his intention to invite Sichuan delegations to the 2025-2026 Chungnam Visit Year, the 2026 Taean International Healing Expo, and the 2027 Summer Universiade, wished Chungnam and Sichuan joint prosperity.

“I was accompanied by the chairman and director of the Sichuan Political Consultative Conference on this visit to expand exchanges in parliamentary and other fields,” said Tian Xiangli, the chairman of the Sichuan Political Consultative Conference, adding, ”and we will do our best to expand practical exchanges between the two regions in the future.”

Prior to the meeting, President Tian Xiangli visited Boryeong City on July 15 and discussed tourism-related exchanges, including the promotion of the Mud Festival, with Boryeong Mayor Kim Dong-il.

Chungcheongnam-do and Sichuan signed a friendship and cooperation agreement in 2008 and sisterhood in 2018, and have been actively engaged in exchanges in various fields, including industry, tourism, and agriculture.

As Chungnam has been actively promoting public-private exchanges, including Governor Kim's visit to Sichuan last year and the Chungnam-China Local Government Exchange Conference, which was attended by nine Chinese provinces in April this year, the Chinese high-level visit to Chungcheongnam-do is expected to be of great help in further developing bilateral relations and strengthening exchanges and cooperation.

Sichuan Province, located in southwestern China, is at the confluence of Central Asia and Southeast Asia, and is a region where new growth engine industries have been developed.