Chongqing - In recent years, Chongqing has seized the opportunity to accelerate building the city into a Hub for International Exchanges in Central and Western China, continuously integrating and expanding foreign affairs resources.

The city has increased efforts to invite foreign entities and expand its presence globally. As a result, Chongqing's international network has grown, fostering broader exchanges with sister cities, solidifying partnerships, and paving the way for a wider path of friendship.

Chongqing, a pivotal economic and cultural hub in Southwestern China, has forged profound cooperative ties with Incheon, South Korea, across a spectrum of sectors, including economy, trade, education, and culture, following the establishment of a sister city pact on June 1, 2007. This partnership has consistently fostered the evolution of their bilateral relations, broadening and deepening connections in multiple domains.

Incheon, situated on South Korea's western coast and distinguished as the nation's third-largest city and a critical port, boasts strategic assets like IncIncheon, located on South Korea's western coast and distinguished as the nation's third-largest city and a critical port, boasts strategic assets like Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port. It is also a crucial free economic zone in Korea, laying a robust groundwork for trade collaboration between the two cities. In 2015, Incheon was designated as a model city under the China-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), significantly bolstering economic and trade interactions between the two metropolises.

Incheon's enchanting urban landscape. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government)

Economically, Chongqing has zealously showcased its industry strengths, such as automotive and motorcycle components, chemicals, and advanced technology, through an array of events in Incheon, encompassing investment environment briefings, urban situation photo exhibits, culinary expos, and tourism showcases. Chongqing unveiled a dedicated exhibition space at the Incheon World City Festival, hosting city promotion and medical technology advocacy events.

Moreover, Chongqing Fancy Met Import & Export Co., Ltd. inked a strategic alliance with Incheon's OULL. Between 2018 and 2019, Incheon delegations engaged in the Smart China Expo in Chongqing, intensifying economic and trade dialogue and collaboration.

The Incheon Exhibition Garden in Chongqing Garden Expo Park. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government)

The amicable bond has spurred vibrant cooperation in cultural, sporting, and youth exchanges. Since 1994, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications and Inha University in Incheon have embarked on enduring, profound educational and technological collaborations. Both entities' establishment of the Chongqing GIS Research Institute in 2000 significantly advanced China's GIS spatial database sector. In 2004, the institutions expanded their interaction, signing a pact for IT postgraduate initiatives. Inha University's Professor Bae Hae Young received the "Three Gorges Friendship Award" from the Chongqing Municipal People's Government for his remarkable educational collaboration efforts.

Additionally, secondary schools from both cities have actively engaged in youth exchanges, like the 5th 2022 East Asia Youth Peace Camp, attended by prestigious schools from Chongqing and Incheon.

The activity of the 5th 2022 East Asia Youth Peace Camp. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government)

Since 2007, Chongqing and Incheon's partnership has flourished, with various governmental tiers and departments actively endorsing friendly exchange agreements, enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation. Following the friendly exchange agreement signed by Chongqing People's Congress Standing Committee and Incheon Metropolitan Council in 2007, more agreements were signed, including those between Chongqing Municipal Federation of Industry and Commerce and Incheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2016, Liangjiang New Area and Incheon Free Economic Zone in 2019, and Chongqing's Shapingba District and Incheon's Gyeyang District in 2021, broadening the scope of their cooperation.

Chongqing and Incheon cities conducted youth exchange activities. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government)

Additionally, Chongqing delegations participated in the "In China Forum" in Incheon from 2017 to 2019, seeking new cooperation opportunities. A special archery event in September 2022 marked the 15th anniversary of the friendship. In December 2022, Chongqing participated online in the Second International Forum on Low-Carbon Cities, co-hosted by Incheon and the UN ESCAP North-East Asian Subregional Office.

The special archery event in September 2022. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government)

The two cities continue to engage in diverse exchanges, enhancing their relationship through sports, arts, tourism, horticulture, and climate change initiatives. This showcases a dynamic and evolving partnership.

Source: Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government