By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo

Ansan City Council has signed an MOU of Friendship and Cooperation with the Aachen Special Economic Zone City Council in Germany.
 

The council announced that Chairman Song Bauna, who is visiting Germany as part of the Ansan City Economic Mission, and Tim Grüttemeier, Mayor and Chairman of the Aachen Special Economic Zone City, signed an MOU of Friendship and Cooperation to strengthen the basis for mutual exchange and cooperation between the two councils at Aachen City Hall on April 19 (local time).

 
The signing ceremony was attended by Ansan City Councilor Han Gap-soo and Mayor Lee Min-geun of Ansan City, as well as German officials such as Christian Democratic Party Chairman and Social Democratic Party Vice Chairman of the Aachen City Council.

The agreement signed by the two sides included three points: ▲ maintaining mutual cooperation based on trust and friendship between the two organizations; ▲ seeking common development through exchanges in various fields such as economy, culture, education, sports, arts, and environment; and ▲ contributing to mutual prosperity and development through practical and active exchanges based on a spirit of reciprocity.

In June last year, when an economic delegation from the Aachen Special Economic Zone visited the Ansan City Council, the chairman of the council, Song Bauna, suggested that the two councils promote friendly and cooperative relations.

The Aachen Special Economic Zone in Germany is a municipal cooperation city that unites 10 neighboring cities for interlocal cooperation and efficient administration. The mayor is elected through local elections, and the elected mayor is also the chairman of the council as a matter of course.

"I am sincerely pleased that the Aachen Special Economic Zone City and Ansan City Council of Korea have continued their mutual exchange and friendship through the MOU," said Song Bauna, adding, "As Ansan City and Aachen Special Economic Zone City have many similarities, such as being similar in size, having grown through industrial development, and having great interest in the future of food, such as the renewable energy sector, and are working toward common goals, we look forward to creating synergy for mutual development through continued friendly cooperation."

"I remember my visit to Ansan City in June last year as if it were yesterday, and it's a pleasure to meet with my friend again," said Mayor and Chairman Tim Grüttemeier. "I hope that the memorandum of understanding we signed will lead to meaningful collaboration between our two councils in the future."

Meanwhile, the Ansan City Economic Delegation is currently on a nine-day visit to Germany from April 18 to participate in the Hannover Messe (Hannover Messe), encourage local companies, and promote investment for the final designation of the Ansan Sadong Science Valley (ASV) as a free economic zone.