By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

Seoul City Mayor Oh Se-hoon met with Tian Xiangli, Chairwoman of the Sichuan Provincial Committee, China at the Mayor's Office in Seoul City Hall to discuss ways to revitalize exchanges between Seoul and Sichuan on July 15. Mrs. Tian Xiangli is a ministerial-level official of Sichuan Province.

Seoul and Sichuan are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their friendship this year, and have been engaged in steady exchanges and cooperation, including a visit by Sichuan Governor Yin Li (now Party Secretary of Beijing).

During the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Seoul City donated relief money and 100,000 bottles of Arisu water for children affected by the earthquake through the Chinese Embassy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Seoul provided protective clothing, goggles, and other epidemic prevention supplies to Sichuan, and Sichuan provided dental masks to Seoul.

"It is fundamental to diplomacy that the people of both countries feel good about each other's countries, which leads to stronger relations," Mayor Oh said, adding that he expects the giant panda 'Fubao' that recently traveled to Sichuan to play a wise diplomatic role in exchanges between the two countries. 

"The panda is under the authority of the central government, but I hope you can solve the clue," he said, and Xiangli replied, "I will return to Sichuan and convey the mayor's will."

Mayor Tian Xiangli said the meeting was a meaningful one on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of friendship and cooperation, adding that she hoped the two sides would join hands to promote advanced city-to-city diplomacy and look forward to bilateral exchanges in various fields such as youth and culture.

Tian Xiangli also said that Sichuan Province would like to strengthen cooperation through economic and cultural exchanges, and hoped that Seoul would participate in the Sichuan International Forum for the Development of Friendly City Cooperation in November in Sichuan Province. 

In response, Mayor Oh said that Seoul Smart Life Week, a new type of ICT fair showcasing people-centered advanced technologies, will be held at COEX in Seoul in October, and he hopes that innovative companies from Sichuan will participate and share their technologies and ideas with leading overseas governments and companies.