2024-07-19 13:51:09
The Andong City delegation (led by Director Oh Chang-won of the Tourism and Culture Bureau) visited Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, a partner city, for two days and one night from Tuesday, July 16, and exchanged opinions on various exchange and cooperation plans.
Kamakura City is where Japan’s first samurai regime, the Kamakura shogunate, began in 1192. It is a representative cultural tourism city of Japan, visited by over 20 million tourists annually for its unique Buddhist culture.
This visit was made at the invitation of Kamakura City, and during the visit, in addition to observing the city’s representative festival, the fireworks festival, and seeing examples of recycling traditional old houses, he visited Kamakura City Hall and held a meeting with Kamakura Mayor Takashi Matsuo to discuss various ways to promote exchanges between the two cities.
In particular, Kamakura Mayor Takashi Matsuo expressed active support for the establishment of the World Humanities Cities Network last April, and following the 10th 21st Century Humanities Values Forum last year, he confirmed that a delegation of about 30 people including Kamakura City youth will attend the 11th forum for a 3-night, 4-day schedule.
At the working-level meeting between the two cities, active discussions were held on the program composition and promotion plan for the Kamakura City Youth Visitors Group, and close information exchange is expected to continue in the future.
Kamakura Mayor Takashi Matsuo said, “I am honored to be able to visit the ‘21st Century Humanities Value Forum’ held in October with the youth of Kamakura City. I hope that through this opportunity, the youth will gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of our partner city, Andong City, and acquire an international perspective and mindset through their participation in the forum.”
Andong City Tourism and Culture Bureau Director Oh Chang-won said, “I hope that this visit will serve as an opportunity to expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including administration, culture, and youth, in addition to civilian exchange activities. In particular, I will do my best to prepare so that the Kamakura City Youth Group’s attendance at the 11th “21st Century Humanities Value Forum” this October can become the starting point for youth exchanges between the two cities.”
The exchange between Andong City and Kamakura City began in 2005 with the “Old Mackerel Road Walk,” and has been actively continued for over 20 years with the leading role of private organizations in both cities. In 2013, a partnership city agreement was signed, and in 2023, a friendly exchange promotion agreement was signed to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the partnership city, and friendly exchanges have been steadily expanded. In the future, active exchanges for continuous mutual development will continue.
Economy Queen Reporter Kim Hong-mi / Photo Andong City
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2024-07-19 13:51:09