Gijang County of Busan Welcomes Bungo Ono City Delegation from Japan, Strengthens Friendly Cooperation

Official Visit and Homestay Exchange Successfully Conclude Amidst 30 Years of Friendship

Gijang County (Governor Jung Jongbok) successfully concluded a variety of friendly exchange programs with a 28-member exchange delegation from Bungo Ono City, Oita Prefecture, Japan, from November 18 to 20.

A welcoming ceremony for the Japanese Bungo Ono City exchange delegation is being held at Gijang County Office. Photo by Gijang County Office

This visit is an extension of the exchange between Jangan-eup in Gijang County and Bungo Ono City, which began at the private level in 1995. The two cities have continued mutual visits every other year to promote friendly cooperation.

This year’s exchange marks the first visit since the two cities officially signed a letter of intent for friendly exchange in October last year. Administrative, legislative, and private sectors, including Gijang County, the Gijang County Council, and the Korea-Japan Private Exchange Council, all participated, enabling broader discussions on cooperation.

During the visit, a variety of friendly exchange activities took place, including an official welcoming ceremony and homestay exchanges. These events served to further strengthen the trust and cooperative relationship that the two cities have built over the past 30 years.

Governor Jung Jongbok said, “I sincerely welcome the Bungo Ono City exchange delegation to Gijang County,” adding, “We will pursue practical and future-oriented exchanges based on the trust built between our two cities over the past 30 years.”

Kawano Fumitose, Mayor of Bungo Ono City, responded, “We are grateful for the warm hospitality from Gijang County, and we look forward to achieving mutual development in various fields such as culture, economy, and education.”

Bungo Ono City in Japan is famous for its beautiful natural scenery, including Harajiri Falls, and its local economy is mainly centered on agriculture and tourism. Gijang County plans to further expand its cooperative relationship with Bungo Ono City to create tangible exchange outcomes that both cities’ residents can truly experience.

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