Gangwon Province and Nagano, Japan Mark 10th Anniversary of Friendship Next Year... Turning Point for Local Diplomatic Cooperation

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Nagano Delegation Pays Official Visit to Gangwon Ahead of Korea-Japan Governors' Meeting

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) officially declared the strengthening of exchanges with Nagano Prefecture, Japan, and discussed practical measures for cooperation between the two regions in Gangneung on November 10, ahead of the 10th anniversary of their friendship exchange in 2026.

A panoramic view of Gangwon Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Government

This official visit by Nagano Prefecture took place prior to the 8th Korea-Japan Governors' Meeting scheduled for November 12 in Incheon. By selecting Gangwon as its primary local diplomacy partner, Nagano Prefecture has marked a turning point for both regions to advance from friendly exchanges to practical cooperation.

At the meeting, Governor Kim Jin-tae and the Nagano delegation explored forward-looking exchange and cooperation measures, focusing on: △mutual exchange and talent development for university students in the semiconductor sector, △revitalizing tourism and sports exchanges by leveraging their status as Winter Olympic host cities, and △establishing a sustainable cooperation network between local governments.

Abe Shuichi, Governor of Nagano Prefecture and President of the National Governors' Association of Japan, stated, "I would like to invite you to visit Nagano Prefecture in celebration of the 10th anniversary of our friendship and cooperation," adding, "Gangwon and Nagano share experiences and resources as host cities of the Winter Olympics."

He continued, "Since Gangwon is interested in future industries and Nagano Prefecture is focused on new industrial fields, we will work together to build a sustainable model for local diplomacy through cooperation in industry, sports, tourism, and youth exchanges."

Governor Kim Jin-tae, speaking in Japanese, congratulated Governor Abe Shuichi on becoming President of the National Governors' Association of Japan and remarked, "Gangwon and Nagano Prefecture began exchanges 10 years ago thanks to the Winter Olympics."

He added, "It takes one hour to reach Nagano from Tokyo by Shinkansen and one hour to reach Gangwon from Seoul by ITX. Both regions are covered 70-80% by forests, and above all, Governor Abe and I share the commonality of having majored in law." He expressed a sense of camaraderie and reaffirmed his commitment to local diplomatic cooperation.

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