‘Kaeu Kkeum Hu Eun ASEAN Secretary-General’ Visits Busan … Busan City Promotes 2030 Busan World Expo Bid

Welcome Luncheon Held at Westin Chosun Hotel Haeundae at Noon on the 17th

Request for Support of Busan as the Candidate City for the 2030 Busan World Expo

Busan City will carry out promotional activities for the bid to host the 2030 Busan World Expo targeting ‘Kao Kim Hourn,’ the ASEAN Secretary-General visiting Busan on the 17th.

Busan City Hall.

Kao Kim Hourn assumed office as ASEAN Secretary-General in January this year, and this is his first visit to Busan. As one of the representatives of the ASEAN community of 600 million people, the ASEAN Secretary-General plays a role in supporting and coordinating the achievement of key policy goals of ASEAN member countries during his five-year term.

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The ASEAN Secretariat is located in Jakarta, Indonesia, and is responsible for coordinating and supporting ASEAN’s policy and project activities, preparing various ASEAN meetings such as summits and ministerial meetings, drafting reports, and maintaining official communication with foreign related organizations.

Busan has become a central city for Korea-ASEAN exchange and cooperation by successfully hosting the Korea-ASEAN Special Summits twice in 2014 and 2019. In 2017, Busan established the ASEAN Culture Center, serving as a hub for Korea-ASEAN cultural cooperation by presenting various projects such as planned exhibitions and film festivals. Busan has also signed sister and friendship city agreements with six ASEAN cities and continues to foster exchange and cooperation.

The ASEAN sister cities (5) are Cebu in the Philippines, Surabaya in Indonesia, Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, Yangon in Myanmar, and Phnom Penh in Cambodia, while the friendship city (1) is Bangkok in Thailand.

On the day, the city will hold a welcoming luncheon at noon at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Haeundae to welcome Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn’s visit to Busan. Lee Seong-gwon, Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs, will preside over the luncheon, explaining the core values of the 2030 Busan World Expo, the charm and hosting capabilities of the candidate city ‘Busan,’ and request support for the bid.

Deputy Mayor Lee will also explain that Busan and ASEAN countries are continuously expanding exchanges in various fields such as economy, culture, and education to promote mutual development, emphasizing that the 2030 Busan World Expo will serve as a stronger partner for cooperation.

After the welcoming luncheon, Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn will move to the Bukhang Promotion Center to tour the Bukhang area, the candidate site for the 2030 Busan World Expo. Jo Yoo-jang, head of Busan’s 2030 Expo Headquarters, will accompany him, watch promotional videos together, and provide direct explanations of the site to enhance Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn’s understanding of the 2030 Busan World Expo.

Deputy Mayor Lee Seong-gwon said, “We welcome Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn of ASEAN to Busan, the optimal site for hosting the 2030 World Expo,” adding, “Taking this visit as an opportunity, we will actively explain to Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn the charm and capabilities of Busan as the candidate city for the 2030 Busan World Expo, as well as the close exchange and cooperation between Busan and ASEAN countries, and ask for continuous interest and cooperation so that ASEAN countries can support the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo.”

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