Wu said that Suzhou has a profound historical and cultural heritage of over 2,500 years and is among the first batch of national historical and cultural cities. The city is also part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) as a city for Crafts and Folk Arts.

Similarly, South Korea has a splendid and rich cultural heritage, Wu said, adding that both parties will continue to maintain close people-to-people exchanges and expand their fields of cooperation.

South Korea and China have been having constant cultural exchanges and culture is the driving force behind bilateral relations, said Kim Seung-ho, South Korea’s consul general in Shanghai. “The friendship and sistership between Suzhou and Jeonju represent the current and future dimensions of Korean and Chinese cultural ties.”

During the event, mayor of Jeonju Kim Seung-su gave a congratulatory speech via video. Representatives from Suzhou and Jeonju also exchanged memorandums of friendly exchanges and cooperation for the next five years.