Pretoria - EThekwini Municipality and Daejeon Metropolitan City in Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, forging and formalising close links with each other in a new sister city relationship.
In the agreement signed this week by eThekwini Municipality Mayor James Nxumalo and Daejeon Mayor Hong Chul Yum, both parties made a commitment to work together to create strong economic links, explore cooperation in areas such as science and technology, education and industry, encourage awareness and exchanges in sports and facilitate cultural understanding and exchanges.
Speaking during the ceremony, Nxumalo noted that the relationship between the city of Durban and Daejeon had some history behind it, and the visit by Yum was the culmination of some years of exchange between the cities.
"In 2007, former Mayor Obed Mlaba had travelled to Korea on the occasion of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) conference held at Jeju Island and then to Daejeon, where he met with former Mayor Park... [It is there that] the seeds of this partnership between Durban and Daejeon were sewn," said Nxumalo.
Yum said South Africa was well known for its human rights restoration and the whole world had learned from South Africa and its accomplishments.
"Durban is significant in the history of Korea. South Korea reached the quarter-finals in Durban during last year's FIFA World Cup and Pyeongchang was awarded as the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics here in Durban during the 123rd session of the International Olympic Committee," said Yum, adding that this was one of the many good reasons the signing of agreement was important.
eThekwini Municipality has vibrant Sister City relationships with 14 cities around the world that bring huge benefit to the people of Durban in various fields. Today, the municipality will also be formally renewing its Sister City agreement with Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. - BuaNews
