Vigorous Economic Exchange among the Three Provinces/Prefectures and Neighboring Regions
Jilin Province - Tottori Prefecture - Gangwon Province
Jilin Province
Gangwon Province
Tottori Prefecture
Since the 1990s, Jilin (China), Tottori (Japan) and Gangwon (Korea) have maintained exchanges with each other and neighboring countries such as Russia and Mongolia, with the vision to establish a North East Asian economic bloc.
The exchanges among the three provinces/prefectures first began when Jilin and Gangwon entered into a sister/friendship agreement in June 1994, followed by Jilin and Tottori’s MOU on Friendship Exchange in September 1994, (friendship province/prefecture agreement signed in 2017) and when Tottori and Gangwon concluded a friendship prefecture/province agreement in November 1994. A prominent regular event among the three provinces/prefectures is the Northeast Asia Industrial Technology Forum, held on a rotational basis since 2008. In recent years, the forum is held annually.
Furthermore, the three prefecture/provinces actively participate in other exchange programs targeting regions beyond China, Japan, and Korea. Following a suggestion from Gangwon, the Northeast Asia Regional Government International Exchange and Cooperation Summit (since 1994) and the EATOF (since 2000), have been held on a rotational basis among the participating local governments.
- Since 2008: Signing of the Industrial Technology Exchange Cooperation Agreement, and the Commencement of the Northeast Asia Industrial Technology Forum (hosted on a rotational basis)
- In accordance with the agreement made at the 2006 Local Government Summit in Northeast Asia, the Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Jilin, the Director of Department of Commerce, Industry and Labor of Tottori, and the Director of the Economy and Industry Bureau of Gangwon signed the Agreement on Industrial Technology Exchange to discover new cooperative projects on high-tech industry technological exchange. Based on the above agreement, the three local governments host the Northeast Asia Industrial Technology Forum on a rotational basis.
- The 10th Northeast Asia Industrial Technology Forum
(Source: Gangwon Province)
- 2009, 2014: Commemorative Events for Friendship Exchange
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In July 2009, Changchun and Jilin hosted the CJK International Culture Food Festival, followed by the CJK Youth Table Tennis Competition in August. The events commemorated the 15th anniversary of the friendship exchange among Tottori, Shimane, and Gangwon.
In August 2014, the four regions of Jilin, Tottori, Gangwon, and Shimane hosted a youth cultural experience event in Jilin to commemorate the 20th anniversary of friendly exchange. Other bilateral commemorative events were held in 2014 as well.
In October of the same year, Tottori hosted a photo exhibition reflecting on the history of CJK exchange, and Gangwon hosted a children’s art and photo exhibition on the history of exchange among the three CJK regions and Alberta, Canada (commemorating the 40th anniversary of friendship relation with Gangwon).
- Since 1994: Local Government Summit in the Northeast Asia
- The three provinces/prefectures, along with Primorsky Krai (Far East region of Russia) and Töv Province of Mongolia, have been hosting the Local Government Summit in Northeast Asia on a rotational basis. Here, the heads of each local government discuss measures to bring about co-development and co-prosperity in the region.
- Since 2000: East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum (EATOF)
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The EATOF was founded in 2000 with the initiative from Gangwon, with the purpose of promoting co-prosperity in East Asia, close exchanges among the regions, and local tourism, as well as of globalizing East Asian tourism industry. The permanent secretariat for EATOF is located in Chuncheon, Gangwon.
Each country can have only one local government as a member of EATOF. Total of 10 local governments from 10 countries are current members of EATOF: Jilin (China), Tottori (Japan), Gangwon (Korea), Siem Reap Province (Cambodia), Special Region of Yogyakarta (Indonesia), Luang Prabang Province (Laos), Sarawak (Malaysia), Töv (Mongolia), Cebu Province (the Philippines), and Quang Ninh Province (Vietnam). The General Assembly is held biennially, while the Standing Committee is held annually.
Past General Assemblies :