< Gyeongju progresses an active international exchange business > The International exchange business of Gyeongju is picking up momentum. Since the appointment of Mayor Choi Yangsik in July 2010, number of sister cities was increased from 9 sister cities in 6 countries to 13 cities in 7 countries as a result of an aggressive effort for inducement of foreign visitors and vitalization of international exchange.

Gyeongju signed an important friendship and exchange agreements with Yichang, Hubei, China, Samarkand, Uzbekistan and Isfahan, Iran just in last year.

This year, friendship agreements with Nitra, Slovakia, Kunming, Yunnan and Chizhou, Anhui, China will be signed. Especially, exchanges with China will be expanded and reinforced in accordance with the increasing trend of Chinese visitors to Korea.

Also, tour spot and various events in Gyeongju are being introduced through People's Daily Online by signing a promotion of business agreement with Korean branch of People's Daily Online (people.com), internet newspaper of the biggest daily newspaper People's Daily in China, and tour city Gyeongju is being promoted to 2 billion Chinese readers through the Familiarization Tour with Chinese journalists in Korea.

In last year, 330 people visited Gyeongju 23 times for the participation of Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon Race and Gyeongju International Youth (U-12) Football Tournament, and about 190 Gyeongju citizens visited other cities 20 times for the participation of The East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress in Nara, Japan, Nikko Cedar Marathon Race, USA Wine Festival, etc.

Moreover, 200 students are sent to foreign countries every year for the promotion of understanding in different cultures and acquisition of international mindset.

Besides, "Gyeongju Silk Road Project," reviewing of role of center of trade between Western and Eastern worlds as the easternmost place of ancient Silk Road in ancient era, is started in the right direction.

Friendship determinations with Samarkand, Uzbekistan and Isfahan, Iran, the major trade routes of ancient Silk Road where the traces of exchange with Ancient Silla can be found, gave an opportunity of the first exchange with Islam as a local autonomous entity.

Also,『Istanbul-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2013』, which was held in Istanbul, Turkey where Eastern and Western cultures meet, introduced Korean culture and tradition to the European people and raised status of Korea to a higher level.

Particularly, this year is the 20th anniversary of sisterhood with Xian, China. Last year, President Park Geun-hye visited China as a state visit and discussed with President Xi Jinping about reinforcement of liberal arts cultural exchange between the two countries. As she visited Xian, where is a repository of Chinese historical culture, exchange between Gyeongju and Xian was increased.

Gyeongju is planning to hold the commemorative event for "20th anniversary of sisterhood between Gyeongju-Xian" in Gyeongju and Xian to celebrate the 20th anniversary of sisterhood and to develop a new exchange model that can contribute to the actual development of both cities by reviewing the exchange history so far.

In this way, Gyeongju is soaring into the global city in the world by introducing the excellence of millenary capital, activating sister cities, and implementing an aggressive overseas marketing.