Busan is good

Park Heong-joon, Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City, Meets with Philippine Trade Delegation to Discuss Expansion of Trade and Investment Cooperation

내용

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that on September 19 at 9:00 a.m., in the International Reception Room at City Hall, Mayor Park met with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Korea and the Philippine-Korea Economic Council (PHILKOREC) trade delegation to discuss ways to expand trade, investment, and human exchange.

The trade delegation consisted of representatives from diverse fields such as tourism, healthcare, waste management, information and communications technology (ICT), and human resource development. Some members also possess national-level networks, including accompanying the President of the Philippines on overseas visits.

Mayor Park stated, “The Philippines was the first ASEAN country to establish diplomatic relations with Korea and dispatched troops during the Korean War, making it a country to which we owe gratitude. I hope this visit will serve as an opportunity to further deepen the friendly cooperation between Busan and the Philippines.”

He went on to add, “As the central city for Korea-ASEAN cooperation, Busan will build cooperative models with the Philippines in various areas such as tourism, smart cities, and disaster safety. To this end, we will pursue a strategic partnership that encompasses trade, culture, and human exchange.”

Mayor Park further emphasized, “Busan is growing into a global hub city based on openness and inclusiveness. As we strive to become an international tourism city by advancing culture and tourism while also strengthening our ports, trade, and new industry infrastructure, I look forward to Busan-Philippines cooperation yielding tangible results.”

In response, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Korea stated, “Busan is a dynamic city and a center of education and culture. As this year marks the 76th anniversary of diplomatic relations since 1949, I hope exchanges will deepen further based on mutual trust. We are also working on establishing a Philippine Consulate General in Busan and are preparing to dispatch a preliminary team to review possible office locations. This will serve as a basis to explore cooperation in various areas, including corporate exchanges.”

The Chairman of the Philippine-Korea Economic Council (PHILKOREC) remarked, “We place great importance on the relationship between Korea and the Philippines. This first visit to Busan has left a lasting impression. With the Korea-Philippines Free Trade Agreement (FTA) now in effect, I expect increased cooperation between the two countries’ businesses. Just as the sister-city relationship between Cebu and Busan has produced achievements in the economy and education, we also hope to foster similar cooperative ties with Bohol and other regions.”

Meanwhile, since 2011, Busan has maintained a sister-city relationship with Cebu Province in the Philippines, carrying out exchanges such as intergovernmental cooperation, public servant training programs, and support for Korean language schools. With the 15th anniversary of the sister-city relationship approaching next year, exchanges between the two cities are expected to further expand.

In closing, Mayor Park stated, “I hope that this visit by the Philippine trade delegation to Busan will lead to the establishment of practical cooperation not only in trade and investment but also in diverse fields such as tourism, culture, and education,” and concluded the meeting.