On October 20, Ningxia and Gyeongsangbuk-do, the ROK held an online ceremony to sign the Agreement Between Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the People’s Republic of China and Gyeongsangbuk-do, the Republic of Korea on the Establishment of Friendly Relationship (the Agreement). Xian Hui, Governor of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, signed the Agreement and exchanged souvenirs after delivering speeches respectively. Xing Haiming, Chinese Ambassador to the ROK, also delivered a video speech. Liu Kewei, Vice Governor of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Ha Dae-sung, Vice Governor for Economic Planning of Gyeongsangbuk-do, were present at the ceremony.
Xian Hui noted that China and the ROK are good neighbors. Since Ningxia and Gyeongsangbuk-do signed the MOU on establishing friendly relationship in 2004, government departments, enterprises and non-governmental organizations from the two sides have expanded cooperation and deepened friendship, achieving pragmatic results across the board. Ningxia stands ready to advance the relationship by enhancing people-to-people and governmental exchanges and hosting various activities together with Gyeongsangbuk-do. By implementing the Agreement, Ningxia will join hands with Gyeongsangbuk-do to step up pragmatic cooperation in manufacturing, tourism, education and healthcare, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples and make more contribution to the strategic cooperative partnership between China and the ROK.
In his speech, Lee Cheol-woo stated that as China and the ROK is about to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the signing of the Agreement is of far-reaching importance, which would bring in more cooperation. He wished that the establishment of friendly relationship will deliver tangible results to the socioeconomic development of two sides and the friendship between China and the ROK.
Xing Haiming said in the video speech that as 2021 is the China-Korea Cultural Exchange Year and next year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK, he hoped that Ningxia and Gyeongsangbuk-do would take this opportunity to cooperate in emerging and key areas and promote exchanges in multiple sectors in the post-pandemic era.
This friendly relationship is the first provincial-level one of Ningxia with the ROK side. It is also the first one tied during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. To celebrate the establishment of friendly relationship, photo exhibitions were held concurrently in the two places. The photos showed the culture, history, specialty industries, tourism and natural scenery of the two places and their exchanges, reflecting their aspiration for a bright future of common development.