Mr. Chung Moon-Joon, Congressman of the Saenuri Party, former President of Grand National Party, former FIFA Vice-president, and Head of Congressmen ROK-China Association on Foreign Affairs (CRCAFA), with his delegation composed of young congressmen from CRCAFA, made a visit to Yichang on July 20. In addition, the delegation was accompanied by officials from both sides including Zhang Shu, Deputy Secretary of Hubei Provincial Committee of China Communist Youth League, and Mr. Park Sang Jin, Minister Counselor of Embassy of the Republic of Korea in China as well as Mr. Han Young Sup, Consul-General of the Republic of Korea in Wuhan. And on the evening of July 20, Wang Xingyu, Secretary of the Political and Law Committee in Yichang, met with the Mr. Chung Moon-Joon and his delegation at Taohualing Hotel.

　　On behalf of the Yichang Government and people, Mr. Wang first extended a warm welcome to Mr. Chung Moon-Joon and his delegation and then gave a detailed introduction to Yichang’s history and its economic and social development. He said Yichang had long been a strategic area and regional economic center in China, and it was the birthplace of numerous celebrities like Qu Yuan, Wang Zhaojun in the history of China. The past dozens of years have seen Yichang undergo a dramatic transformation from a small city to a medium-sized city, then to a big city, with the joint efforts made by Yichang Government and Yichang people. And since the urban construction in Yichang receives much recognition, more than twenty honors so far such as “National Civilized City”,“National Sanitary City”, etc. have been awarded. Now Yichang is on the way to building into a modern megacity. Yichang Government and ROK Government have kept extensive exchange and wide communication for a long time; for example, the cooperative relationship between Yichang Government and its counterparts including Yeongyang County Government and Gyeongju Government, and the partnership between CTGU and Uiduk University. In recent years, Zigui County Government of Yichang City has signed the cooperation agreement with Yeongwol-gun Government of Gangwon. The number of projects invested by LS Cable & System in Yichang has reached four. He hopes that with the help of Mr. Chung Moon-Joon and particularly his international influence with circles in politics, economy, culture and sports, Yichang Government and ROK Government can further both sides\' cooperation by means of this visit.

　　Mr. Chung Moon-Joon first showed a great deal of concern for flood-ravaged area in China and extended his cordial greetings to Chinese people there; then he expressed condolences and solicitude to the victims and their families of the plane crash in San Francisco. He agreed with the high evaluation Mr. Han Young Sup gave to Yichang- “It is a wonderful land suited for living and overflowing with prosperity.” He also said just as the China Dream and the Korean Dream that different though in contents and approach, they equally gave top priority to a sense of well-being, we Korean and Chinese shall have a sense of community in which we shared a same fate. At last, he promised that he, together with his colleagues here, would make an effort to promote the realization of both China Dream and Korean Dream.

　　The member of the delegation Mrs. Kim Hee Jung said South Korea people had heard a lot about the well-known Battle of Red Cliffs that took place in Hubei Province in the period of the Three Kingdoms (220-265). And she almost always has to correct her impressions of China each time after visiting China due to its rapid change. She thinks that China is a country rich in tourist destinations, while there are many places in ROK worthy of visiting for Chinese tourists; therefore, she hopes that both sides can strength exchanges and cooperation in tourism and especially welcomes more Yichang visitors to her country. Besides, she is impressed by the wide range of knowledge of Chinese college students in South Korea’s politics, economy and culture through communication with them. She encourages more Chinese young people to visit South Korea in the future. Given the important role the football has played in international relations, she suggests two countries work together to promote more colorful exchange activities between ROK-China young football players.

　　According to reports, Congressmen ROK-China Association on Foreign Affairs was set up in 1995 on the basis of Congressmen ROK-China Friendship Association founded in 1992 within South Korea’s parliament.

　　Other government officials such as Liu Xuefu, President of Yichang Municipal Labor Union, Liu Zhenhua, Director of Yichang Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, and Su Haitao, Secretary of Yichang  Committee of China Communist Youth League also attended the meeting.

　　（By Wu Banghua, Yichang Foreign Affairs Office）