International Friendship Built by Suwon City Shines in Times of Crisis

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] As the COVID-19 crisis looms, the international friendship that Suwon City has cultivated over the years is shining brightly. Sister cities and friendly partner cities of Suwon are expressing their willingness to donate masks one after another.

Pin Prakad, Vice-Governor of Siem Reap Province in Cambodia, Suwon City's international sister city (sisterhood established in 2004), sent an official letter to Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young on the 20th, stating "We are willing to donate 20,000 surgical masks to help Suwon City respond to COVID-19," and expressing hope that "cooperation between Siem Reap Province and Suwon City will be strengthened."

Also, Mayor Yao Yi-sheng of Zhuhai City, China (friendly partnership established in 2006), sent a letter to Mayor Yeom on the 23rd, saying "We feel a sense of sympathy for the difficulties Suwon City is facing," and announced "We plan to deliver 20,000 N95 masks (with a dust filtration rate of 95% or higher) to Suwon City to express our support. We hope these will be used by civil servants and medical staff."

Jinan City, China (sister city established in 1993) also submitted a letter of donation intent to Suwon City on the 23rd, stating "We will provide 30,000 surgical masks," seeking cooperation with the Korean Red Cross.

The total number of masks the three cities have pledged to provide to Suwon City reaches 70,000 (20,000 N95 masks and 50,000 surgical masks).

Suwon City plans to receive the masks through the Korean Red Cross and then distribute them to the vulnerable population that has difficulty obtaining masks.

Mayor Yeom Tae-young said "The masks supported by the three cities are the result of the friendship Suwon City has steadily built with sister and friendly cities," and expressed gratitude, stating "We sincerely appreciate the three cities for sharing their warm hearts with the people of Suwon, our longtime friends, even in a situation where COVID-19 has occurred in their own countries."

Currently, Suwon City has established international sister city and friendly partnership relationships with 18 cities across 6 continents around the world and actively exchanges with them. There are 14 international sister cities and 4 international friendly partnership cities.

An international sister city relationship is established with one city per country. When a sister city relationship is established with a city in one country and a friendly cooperation relationship is established with another city in the same country, it is called an "international friendly partnership city." There is little difference in the content of exchanges and cooperation.