- Songdo, Incheon, to host ADB Annual Meeting from May 2 to 5 (4 days) -
- Both organizations to continue cooperation after the Annual Meeting -
On May 1, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa at the ADB President's Office located in Songdo Convensia to discuss how the City and ADB can work together to ensure the success of the upcoming 56th ADB Annual Meeting. Both parties also shared ideas on future cooperation and plans for mutual growth between the two organizations to continue the cooperative relationship between Incheon and ADB once the Annual Meeting ends.
The meeting was held as part of the build-up for the 56th ADB Annual Meeting scheduled between May 2 and 5. The ADB Annual Meeting is a top-level international conference attended by more than 5,000 guests, including delegations from 68 ADB member countries and financial institutions from all over the world.
This year, the ADB Annual Meeting resumes as an in-person event after a four-year hiatus, a decision that was made to avoid the ill effects of COVID-19. The 56th ADB Annual Meeting is about “Rebounding Asia: Recover, Reconnect, and Reform.”
Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok said, “I tip my hat to ADB for playing a crucial role in the prosperity and harmony across the Asia-Pacific, and in particular, promoting economic cooperation for more sustainable development and active response to climate change in the region. In anticipation of the ADB Annual Meeting, Incheon has established a safe and prompt 24-hour disaster response system across all areas, including medical, safety, sanitation, and quarantine, to help ensure its success.”
The Mayor added, “We have prepared various tourism programs as well as culture and art events to welcome every one of our guests, including the ADB delegation and other officials, traveling to Incheon on behalf of all 3 million of its citizens. We sincerely hope everyone has a great time and immerses themselves in all of the attractions our great city, which is known for its great mix of past traditions, present, and future, has to offer.”
He also explained, “Incheon is hoping to become a global ‘hub city’ and a major destination for international capital by creating the right environment where businesses can thrive. The city also wants to cooperate and grow together with ADB, which has been working with developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region to help grow their economies for decades as a truly international development bank.”
Meanwhile, ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa said, “The ADB deeply appreciates everything Incheon has done to ensure the success of our 56th ADB Annual Meeting. We hope that ADB and Incheon will continue to develop a mutually beneficial collaborative partnership even after the Annual Meeting. We want this event to serve as an opportunity to show the world just how exciting and attractive the city of Incheon is, which has shown some remarkable progress and growth as a bone fide global city.”
Meanwhile, in June, Incheon will follow up the ADB Annual Meeting with the “Data × ADB” in Sondgo as well. Data x ADB is a conference where experts from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and other climate and environmental institutions gather to share their insights on “Climate Change and Carbon Neutral Technology.” More than 40 experts, including government officials of ADB member countries and ADB executives, are expected to participate in the event.
