Mayor meets Gov. Choo Mi-ae, seeks provincial support for city's development agenda
Gwangju Mayor Park Gwan-yeol has asked Gyeonggi Province for support and cooperation in advancing the city's major development projects.
Park met Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae on Tuesday and delivered a formal proposal document outlining the city's key policy priorities and future development agenda, requesting the province's active attention and support.
The meeting was arranged to deepen Gyeonggi Province's understanding of Gwangju's major policy issues and to lay the groundwork for cooperation toward sustainable regional development.
Park said provincial support for key projects — including improvements to urban infrastructure and the cultivation of advanced future industries — is essential for Gwangju to emerge as a leading city in the southeastern part of the greater Seoul metropolitan area.
Choo expressed interest in Gwangju's development potential and its key challenges, and the two sides discussed ways to cooperate on the city's future growth.
Park also met separately with the province's deputy governor for economic affairs and senior staff to share the direction of the priority projects outlined in the proposal and to identify areas where provincial support is needed. The two sides also discussed concrete cooperation measures, including establishing a coordination framework between relevant departments of Gyeonggi Province and Gwangju.
"I am deeply grateful that Governor Choo has taken a special interest in Gwangju's current challenges and future development," Park said. "I hope this meeting will serve as an opportunity for Gyeonggi Province and Gwangju to work more closely together, and we will do our utmost to ensure that our key projects deliver tangible results."
Gwangju plans to continue consultations with relevant Gyeonggi Province departments following the meeting, and to strengthen administrative support for the smooth advancement of its priority projects and the building of a foundation for future growth.
pjh@heraldcorp.com