By Kayla Lee

Chungcheongbuk-do (Chungbuk) and Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam, celebrated the 10th anniversary of their sisterhood and 15th anniversary of their friendship at the Grand Plaza Hotel in Cheongju on Oct. 16. 

The event was attended by Chungcheongbuk-do Governor Kim Young-hwan and Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee Chairman, among others. Business exchanges were also held with companies from the province that have established a presence in Vietnam or wish to do so. 

The cooperation between the two provinces was initiated in 2008, when Vinh Phuc's Deputy Governor visited the province and conveyed his intention for exchanges.

Since then, agricultural equipment support such as combines and people-to-people exchanges such as mutual visits followed, and in October 2013, a sisterhood was established in Vinh Phuc Province.

Since then, they have been promoting exchanges and cooperation in various fields, such as sending officials from both regions to each other and operating a public relations center in Vinh Phuc Province during events such as the Organic Expo. 

The relationship between the two provinces is based on deep trust and friendship, as evidenced by the case last year when a local company, Power Logics Vietnam, was notified of a substantial corporate tax bill by the Vinh Phuc Tax Department, and the two provinces resolved the issue through close consultation.

Based on this, the province believes there is a consensus that the relationship should be taken to the next level in line with the advancement of bilateral relations.

Governor Kim Young-hwan said, "Based on the strong trust and friendship that has been established between the two regions, we look forward to expanding exchanges in the public and private sectors in various fields, including people-to-people exchanges, such as attracting international students to work, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the sisterhood."