From April 16 to 18, Yook Dong-il, President of Korea Research Institute for Local Administration (KRILA), visit SPI/SAI with his delegation. Vice President Zeng Jun presided over the meeting. Vice Presidents LUO feng and Wang Yongjie attended the meeting together withrelevant officials from the General Office, Research Administration Office, Shanghai Academy of Development & Reform, and Foreign Affairs Office.

On behalf of SPI/SAI, Zeng Jun extended a warm welcome to the delegation. He introduced the basic situation of SPI/SAI and reviewed the interaction history between SPI/SAI and KRILA. He mentioned that as early as 2001, the two sides signed a memorandum of cooperation. For more than 20 years, the two sides have maintained close cooperation in training, visiting studies, international conferences, etc. He hopes that both sides will use this visit as an opportunity to further promote mutual learning and exchange.

Yook Dong-il expressed thanks to SPI/SAI for the warm hospitality. He praised SPI/SAI’s scientific training system that combines theory with practice, as well as the planning of key disciplines, faculty building, modern teaching facilities, and excellent logistical service capabilities. He spoke highly of the cadre education and training effortsthat provides high-quality talents for Shanghai’s rapid development. He looks forward to in-depth exchanges between the two sides, continuing to build a platform for exchanges and cooperation between China and South Korea.

Zeng Jun and Yook Dong-il signed a memorandum of cooperation on behalf of respective sides, which represented a step forward based on previous cooperation. Both sides will contribute wisdom to local governance around personnel exchanges, joint research, etc., and enhance mutual understanding and cooperation. At the meeting, the two sides had in-depth exchanges on issues such as population aging and coordinated regional development.

While in Shanghai, both sides will hold a bilateral seminar on “Balanced Development of Large, Medium and Small Cities”.