By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
Gyeonggi-do Governor Kim Dong-yeon, who is visiting Switzerland and France to strengthen international exchanges and attract investment, met with Valérie Pécresse, governor of Île-de-France, to discuss cooperation.
Governor Kim Dong-yeon and Governor Valérie Pécresse had breakfast at the Ile-de-France Provincial Office on Jan. 19 and discussed concrete action plans on startups, climate change, high-tech industries, and youth exchange.
"I think there is a lot of potential for cooperation between the two regions in terms of startups, high-tech industries, climate change, as well as cultural and artistic exchanges and youth exchanges," Kim said, "First of all, I would like you to visit Gyeonggi-do with your startups for startup exchanges."
"Gyeonggi-do is promoting a climate change response policy called Gyeonggi-do RE100 in four areas: public, business, industry, and people's daily lives. There are many areas of cooperation, including low carbon. We established the Future Growth Industry Bureau and the Climate Bureau shortly after I took office, and I would like to seek cooperation through executive-level contacts. If you designate a representative at the directorate level, we will promote an annual meeting."
Gov. Pécresse responded, "Ile-de-France, like Gyeonggi Province, has a cluster of tech companies, and Saclay is a high-tech engine. I think there is a lot of cooperation between the two regions." "You said that there is a Silicon Valley like Saclay in Korea, and it would be good to have a closer exchange with each other," she said.
"There are more and more young French people interested in Korea. This year, we have selected seven scholarship students to go to Korea, and I would like to see more tourism exchanges. I've been to Korea seven or eight years ago. I want to go again," she said, expressing her intention to expand exchanges and visit Korea.
The two agreed to invite startups from both regions to participate in VivaTech, France's largest startup technology exhibition (scheduled for May) and a startup event that Gyeonggi Province is promoting in the second half of the year. They also agreed to form a working group at the ministerial level to promote specific projects such as youth exchange programs and environmental projects.
The Île-de-France region is a metropolitan autonomous region that includes the capital city of Paris and is the most populous region in France with a population of 12.4 million. Ile-de-France and Gyeonggi Province have been cooperating in various fields since signing a friendship and cooperation agreement in 2016. In September 2022, Governor Pécresse sent a letter to Governor Kim Dong-yeon congratulating him on his election as governor.
Later in the day, he met with Senator Christian Cambon of Île-de-France at the French Senate building to discuss regional and national cooperation.
Governor Kim said, "I would like to express my respect and gratitude for your efforts to help the French Senate unanimously pass the resolution supporting the declaration of the end of the Korean War and to host Busan Expo." He added, "Gyeonggi-do wants to cooperate more with France as well as Ile-de-France, and it would be a great help if you could help us a lot."
In response, Senator Cambon said, "Although Korea is not a large country in terms of geographical area, I think it has a great position in economic development, media, automobiles, and various innovation fields. I hope we can work together in the same direction in the future."
