By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Chul-woo met with Russian Ambassador to Korea Georgy Zinoviev, who visited the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office on March 10, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation and to ensure the successful hosting of the 2025 APEC Leaders' Meeting.

Welcoming the Russian ambassador and his delegation, Governor Lee Chul-woo said, “Russia has the experience of holding a successful meeting as the APEC chair in 2012, even in the midst of political changes and crises in major countries such as the U.S. and China.” He emphasized, “Gyeongbuk Province is also a great example for us to prepare for the 2025 APEC Summit under difficult circumstances at home and abroad.”

On the occasion of the visit, Governor Lee expressed his wish for closer cooperation between the two economies in various fields and requested President Vladimir Putin to attend the 2025 APEC Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju this year.

In response, Ambassador Zinoviev said, “I am pleased to visit Gyeongbuk Province, and I will use this opportunity to further strengthen bilateral exchange and cooperation between our two countries, and to do my utmost to ensure the success of the 2025 APEC Leaders' Meeting.”

After a meeting and luncheon with Governor Lee, Ambassador Zinoviev and his delegation toured Hahoe Village, which was previously visited by Queen Elizabeth II and praised as “KOREA IN KOREA,” Byeongsan Seowon, one of the most beautiful seowon in Korea, and Bongjeongsa Temple, a serene beauty of a thousand-year-old temple, and expressed their deep appreciation for the cultural heritage of Korea's spirit and culture.

This is the third time an ambassador from a foreign country has visited Gyeongbuk Province this year.

Gyeongsangbuk-do is making all-out preparations to host the 2025 APEC Summit, which will be the most successful ever, with the leaders of 21 member economies, including the four major economies of the United States, China, Japan, and Russia, as well as the heads of state and government, business, and the private sector.