As the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting approaches in Gyeongju, our APEC Stories series spotlights how local partnerships spark global impact. One standout duo? Chongqing Municipality in the Chinese mainland's southwest region and Incheon, South Korea's vibrant transportation hub.
Since launching their sister-city partnership in 2007, these two cities have built bridges across trade, tourism, culture and education. From joint trade missions and cultural festivals to student exchanges and business forums, Chongqing and Incheon have shown how city diplomacy can drive real-world results.
This July, they turned the spotlight on youth cooperation: Chongqing sent three youth football teams to Incheon for an exchange event hosted by the Incheon Tourism Organization. Over several action-packed days, young athletes shared training methods, swapped cultural performances and scored both goals and new friendships.
Looking ahead, this sister-city story offers a blueprint for young global citizens, entrepreneurs and changemakers seeking to turn local ties into international collaborations. With the next chapter set against the backdrop of the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, Chongqing and Incheon remind us that people-to-people exchanges are the key to a more connected, resilient future.
Reference(s):
APEC Stories: Chongqing, Incheon continue their sister-city journey
cgtn.com
