Gyeongbuk Province promotes future-oriented regional diplomacy between Korea and Japan!

(Daily Daegu Gyeongbuk News = Reporter Kim Hyeong-man) On April 25, Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheol-woo met with Consul General of the Consulate General of Japan in Busan Tsuyoshi Otsuka and discussed the friendly cooperation between Gyeongsangbuk-do and Japan, as well as the issues facing both countries and regions. We discussed the issues extensively.

Consul General Tsuyoshi Otsuka is a Korean diplomat who has worked for several years at the Japanese Embassy in Korea and the Consulate General in Busan and has a wide human network in Korea thanks to his fluent command of Korean and unique friendliness. He was appointed Consul General at the Japanese Consulate General in Busan in September 2022.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo and I have maintained a close relationship by meeting at various international exchange sites, such as the Northeast Asia Tourism and Culture Forum, DGIEA Friendship Night, and the World Historic Cities Conference held in Andong.

At the meeting with the Consul General, Governor Lee Cheol-woo said, “Recently, local diplomacy has been actively promoted due to the increase in tourism demand between Korea and Japan and the resumption of aviation and international passenger ships.” He added, “This year, we will further advance Korea-Japan relations and promote cooperation in various fields between local governments.” “We ask for cooperation at the consulate general level to promote exchanges.”

In particular, he explained the policies being pursued to resolve low birth rates, including the background to Gyeongbuk’s declaration of ‘war on low birth rates’, and emphasized that he hoped to benchmark Japan’s advanced policies and cooperate together.

Consul General of Japan in Busan Otsuka said, “While positive changes are expected to continue, such as the rapid increase in human and material demand between Korea and Japan, we will further develop the current ‘thaw’ atmosphere by further strengthening the ties between local governments and private organizations in both countries. “I will try my best to get out,” he said.

In addition, he responded, “We will serve as a stepping stone to promote the excellent tourist destinations and charms of Gyeongbuk, including Andong, the capital of Korean spiritual culture, to Japan.”