Kim Dong-yeon Meets Australian Ambassador Following UK, Germany, US, and China... Discusses Carbon Neutrality and Future Innovation Projects

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (far right) is meeting with Catherine Raper, Australian Ambassador to Korea, at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office on the 13th. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, met with Catherine Raper, Australian Ambassador to Korea, to discuss economic exchange plans related to future innovation industries such as carbon neutrality and information technology (IT).

At the meeting on the 13th with Catherine Raper, who visited the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office, Governor Kim said, "Gyeonggi Province is creating various directions related to carbon neutrality and is reorganizing its organization to lead the way," adding, "I understand that Australia has achieved many results internationally, including hydrogen, and I hope we can cooperate and exchange together. I hope this meeting will serve as an opportunity to promote practical cooperation related to carbon neutrality."

He continued, "In the future, I hope there will be opportunities for Australia and Korea to cooperate not only in natural resources but also in information technology (IT) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution."

In response, Catherine Raper, Australian Ambassador to Korea, said, "I believe there are many areas where Korea and Australia can cooperate in a low-carbon economy. In particular, I believe we can build a reliable supply chain in clean hydrogen, low-carbon emitting iron ore and steel, and rare earth elements," adding, "The trade structure between the two countries has recently expanded into many areas such as defense industry, biotechnology, and space sectors. I see the IT industry as having infinite potential for cooperation between the two countries."

Governor Kim and Ambassador Catherine Raper also exchanged various opinions on strengthening human exchange programs that provide opportunities for Gyeonggi youth to experience overseas, international affairs, workforce development, and investment attraction.

This meeting followed the relationship formed when Governor Kim visited the Australian Embassy in July 2021 at Ambassador Raper's invitation and exchanged various opinions on global issues.

Ambassador Catherine Raper was appointed as Australian Ambassador to Korea in January 2021. She is a trade-specialized diplomat with experience as head of the Australian government's COVID-19 response team, director of the Europe and Latin America division, representative of the Australian Office in Taiwan, and trade commissioner at the Australian Embassy in the United States.

Australia is a global holder of key battery minerals and the top supplier of mineral resources to Korea. Gyeonggi Province expects to enhance cooperation in economic and resource fields such as K-battery material supply chains, zero carbon emission technologies, hydrogen, and renewable energy.

Governor Kim has been strengthening international exchanges by consecutively meeting major country ambassadors to Korea, including Colin Crooks, British Ambassador to Korea in July last year; Michael Reiffenstuel, German Ambassador to Korea in August; Philip Goldberg, U.S. Ambassador to Korea in November; and Xing Haiming, Chinese Ambassador to Korea in December.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.