Lo (fourth left), Park Dong-cheol (fifth left) and South Korean delegates as well as MPP councillors and heads of departments capturing a moment together.

KUCHING: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) and Geumsan-gun Chungcheongnam-do of Republic of South Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday, which marked an important milestone in strengthening ties between the regions.

With a strong commitment from councils of both sides, MPP chairman Lo Khere Chiang expressed confidence that the collaboration would inspire more joint innovative programmes between the two regions in future, driving development in the six selected innovative areas between the two sides to a new height.

“The MoU signed this morning covers six areas of cooperation such as public administration, economy, education, culture, tourism and community development programme.

“It is of mutual benefit to Geumsan-gun Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of South Korea and Padawan Municipal Council to develop and strengthen these six areas for sustainable development,” said Lo during the signing ceremony at the council in Kota Padawan yesterday. The MoU was signed by mayor of Geumsan-gun Chungcheongnam-do, Park Dong-cheol, and Lo. Among those present were secretary of MPP Andrew Joris Noyen, South Korea delegates, councillors of MPP, heads of departments as well as community leaders.

Park Dong-cheol, who also spoke, said he hoped with the MoU, the two regions would seek methods by which the two regions could develop together and their relationship would develop into international friendship and cooperation through active exchange in various fields.

“I am very pleased to visit Padawan District in person and to see the centre of economy, culture and social affairs of Sarawak State and which has been rapidly developing on the basis of a high economic growth rate (six per cent in 2014).

“The Republic of Korea and Malaysia have made remarkable development together on the basis of historical, culture and emotional identity since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and cooperation has been expanding in various fields,” he said.

“Particularly, Geumsan-gun has opened and been operating Geumhonggwan, a specialised Geumsan Ginseng sales shop in Penang, and has established its own deep relationship with Malaysia,” he added. He also pointed out that on the basis of Ginseng industry, the World Ginseng Expo Geumsan was successfully held in 2006 and 2011. Geumsan Ginseng Expo has been held each year since 1981 and this year marks the 35th anniversary.

According to him, Geumsan-gun is a transportation hub located in the heart of the Republic of Korea and has a population of 56,000 people. It is a historic area with beautiful scenic views and diverse traditional culture.

Geumsan is a powerhouse production area of Goryeo Ginseng, which is known around the world as a wonder drug with 1,500 years of history and where the largest Ginseng market has been established.

“Our area is accountable for 80 per cent of the transactions of Ginseng in the Republic of Korea,” he added.