GREENVILLE, N.C. — The City of Greenville and the Yeonsu-gu District of Incheon, South Korea officially started a Sister Cities International Friendship City partnership on Monday, June 5, as mayors from each city participated in a signing ceremony. The ceremony was held at City Hall prior to the City Council meeting.

Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas and Yeonsu-gu Mayor Lee Jae-Ho each signed the Friendship City Agreement which notes that the two cities will pursue joint development by working on exchanges and cooperation in diverse fields, including but not limited to economy, education, and culture. The agreement is the first of its kind for Greenville, which formed the nonprofit Sister Cities Association of Greenville, North Carolina in March.

"We are pleased to be entering into this partnership with Yeonsu-gu," Thomas said. "There are a lot of things that our two cities can learn from one another and a lot of opportunities for collaboration that will be mutually beneficial to both cities. We are looking forward to sharing our experience in education, medicine, government, business, and culture."

Mayor Lee was among seven members of a delegation from Yeonsu-gu that arrived in Greenville on Sunday night and toured various areas of the city on Monday and Tuesday. The group made stops at Vidant Medical Center, the East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine Cardiovascular Robotics Training Center, Grady-White Boats, East Carolina University's main campus, and Pitt Community College. A group from Yeonsu-gu also visited Greenville in November 2016 when talks of a Sister Cities agreement were first initiated.

During Monday's ceremony, Lee said he was impressed with the historic aspects of Greenville, which Yeonsu-gu lacks, and he noted that he is excited to begin planning exchanges that will benefit future generations.

"I believe we have made the very first steps for the future of our children in both cities," Mayor Lee said.

During Monday's ceremony, Mayor Lee presented Mayor Thomas with an ornate porcelain vase, and Thomas presented Lee with a hand-carved clock that included two clock faces, one for Greenville time and one for Yeonsu-gu time.