Martin Li

    martin.mouse@163.com

    DURING a visit to Futian District on Friday, South Korea’s consul general in Guangzhou, Yang Chang-soo, pledged to support the district in establishing a friendly relationship with Seoul’s Gangnam District, the largest urban district in South Korea.

    “The trade volume between China and South Korea reached US$270 billion last year, US$70 billion of which was generated by trade with Guangdong Province. Shenzhen, including Futian, contributed to most of Guangdong’s Sino-Korea trade last year,” said Yang.

    Yang said Gangnam represents the fastest-growing economy in Seoul and all factors point to a bright future for its continued economic and cultural development.

    Establishment of friendly relationships between urban districts is a productive way to strengthen exchange between China and South Korea, according to Yang.

    Yang added that the South Korean Consulate General in Guangzhou stands solid behind the Futian relationship. Gangnam District will soon dispatch a delegation to Futian to confer with Futian officials on the establishment of a friendly relationship.

    Futian was home to more than 140 South Korean-funded enterprises by the end of last year, totaling an investment of US$60 million, according to Wu Jing, member of the Standing Committee of the Futian District Committee of the Communist Party of China. Wu is in charge of foreign affairs in Futian, among other portfolios.

    “There are 8,255 South Korean expats who live permanently or temporarily in Futian. They comprise the largest expat population in the district,” said Wu.

    The trade volume between Futian and South Korea exceeded US$9.2 billion by the end of last year, expanding more than 41 percent compared to 2012, according to Wu.

    A major commercial hub in Shenzhen and increasingly an international district, Futian continues to actively pursue communication and exchange with foreign urban centers.

    Futian has already established friendly official relationships with cities in Japan and France.

    Futian has drafted a guideline for building a truly international community. It calls for the district to set up a one-stop service platform for expats, while exploring new mechanisms by which government and social resources combine to provide services for expats.

    In addition, standards will be established on bilingual public signage and public service facilities. More international neighborhoods will be formed and the district will seek new ways to involve more outstanding international professionals in public management.