From October 21 to 22, 2024, the 25th China-Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) Friendship Cities Exchange Conference was successfully held in Gwangju Metropolitan City, ROK. Co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Governors Association of the ROK (GAROK), and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) of Japan, the conference focused on the theme "Strengthening Trust among Local Governments of China, Japan, and the ROK for Solving Complex Issues". Approximately 400 participants attended, including President Yang Wanming and Vice President Yuan Mindao of the CPAFFC, as well as nearly 150 representatives from 39 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China. Representatives of local governments and related institutions from 27 provinces, metropolitan cities and districts in ROK, along with 11 prefectures and cities in Japan, also participated. Notable attendees included You Min-bong, Secretary General of the GAROK, Kang Ki-jung, Mayor of Gwangju, Shin Soo-jung, Chairman of the Gwangju City Council, Yasuda Mitsuru, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the CLAIR, and Yamaguchi Nobuhiko, Vice Governor of the Osaka Prefecture.
In his speech, President Yang Wanming emphasized the close geographic and cultural ties among China, Japan, and the ROK, noting their importance as neighbors and major players in regional and global stability. Yang stated that a sound and stable China-Japan-ROK relationship is essential for the fundamental interests of the three nations and their peoples, as well as for peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia and the world at large. Highlighting the 25th anniversaries of both the China-Japan-ROK Cooperation Mechanism and the China-Japan-ROK Friendship Cities Exchange Conference, Yang pointed out that China and Japan have established 266 pairs of sister cities, while China and the ROK have formed 225 such partnerships. Yang called on the participants to fully leverage the China-Japan-ROK Friendship Cities Exchange Conference as a bridge, strengthen practical cooperation in the economic and trade fields, jointly promote scientific and technological progress and industrial upgrading, and foster new growth areas for regional economic development. Yang also called to bolster exchanges and mutual learning in the cultural field and reinforce the cultural identity of the people from the three countries while nurturing cultural affinity among them, thereby strengthening people-to-people bonds. We should intensify friendly exchanges among young people, build more youth exchange mechanisms and platforms, and train active participants and successors for the cause of trilateral friendship. He also called the three countries to join hands to address global challenges, jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and contribute insights and strength to the well-being of people in the three countries and the peace and development of the world.
You Min-bong welcomed the local government delegations of China and Japan to the ROK for the conference and expressed his gratitude to the CPAFFC for organizing nearly 150 Chinese representatives to participate. He noted that, after 25 years of development, the China-Japan-ROK Friendship Cities Exchange Conference has become a vital platform for the local governments of the three countries to deepen mutual trust, enhance friendship, and promote cooperation. He expressed hope that the representatives of the local governments of the three countries would strengthen the bond of cooperation during the conference, work together to tackle common challenges, and jointly create a bright future for Northeast Asia.
Yasuda Mitsuru emphasized the growing importance of strengthening local exchanges and cooperation in the face of a complex international landscape. He stressed that Japan, China, and the ROK, as close neighbors with shared historical and cultural ties, should enhance people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation in economic, cultural, youth, and local fields to contribute to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia.
Kang Ki-jung welcomed the gathering of local government officials from the three countries in Gwangju. He highlighted Gwangju's reputation as the "ROK Capital of Culture and Arts" and affirmed the city's commitment to fostering local exchanges and cooperation with Japan and China.
Li Hongtao, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Henan Province, Fang Chunbiao, Deputy Mayor of Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province, Xie Yanbing, Deputy Secretary-General of the People's Government of Yibin Municipality, Sichuan Province, and Pan Xingxing, Director of the Economic Development Division of the Research Office of Beijing Municipal People's Government, also delivered speeches at the conference. Participants from the three countries engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as "Promoting Urban and Citizen Exchanges among China, Japan, and Korea", "Creating Sustainable Eco-Friendly Cities", and "Revitalizing Local Economies, including Smart Cities". Participants shared experiences and explored opportunities for cooperation in pursuit of common development.
The conference achieved broad consensus and positive results. Participants agreed that the successful holding of the conference has enhanced mutual understanding, deepened the friendship among the local governments of the three countries, gained valuable experience in urban governance, and effectively intertwined exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, energy, people-to-people exchanges, education, and youth programs. Moving forward, the local governments of the three countries will work together to reinforce the foundation of people-to-people friendship, build bridges for subnational cooperation, and jointly safeguard regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity.
The conference concluded with the announcement that its 26th edition will be held in 2025 in Yancheng, East China's Jiangsu Province. Gao Shangde, Deputy Mayor of Yancheng, introduced the city's achievements and extended a warm invitation to representatives from China, Japan, and the ROK to attend next year's event.
During the conference, Korean artists performed traditional cultural programs, and the children's choir sang three folk songs from China, Japan and the ROK in Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages, respectively, creating a friendly and warm atmosphere.
First initiated in 1999 and jointly organized by the CPAFFC, the GAROK, and the CLAIR, the China-Japan-ROK Friendship Cities Exchange Conference is held annually on a rotating basis among the three countries. It serves as a platform for addressing shared concerns of local governments of the three countries and promoting trilateral exchanges and cooperation.
