UMCA aims for further expansion in Northeast Asia

The Union of Machinery Industrial Cities in Northeast Asia, or UMCA, was initiated by Ma'anshan city of China and Changwon city in the Republic of Korea. The first Mayors' Summit was held in Changwon in September 2005, drawing mayors of eight cities from four countries to attend, including the cities of Weihai, Wuxi and Ma'anshan of China, Changwon and Ansan of ROK, Ube and Ogaki of Japan, and Komsomolsk-on-Amur of Russia. During the meeting, the document on establishing UMCA was officially signed.

As of 2014, UMCA has organized eight Mayors' Summits, with the total number of union members rising to 12. The newcomers include the cities of Weinan, Tongling, Baoji and Tangshan of China, as well as Pohang and Siheung of ROK. The two Japanese members of Ube and Ogaki have left the union.

This regional organization aims to enhance industrial machinery exchange and cooperation among union members, promoting the development of industrial machine technology in Northeast Asia and their international competitiveness. This approach aims to foster the economic viability of industrial machinery manufacture in competent cities in Northeast Asia.

At first, UMCA members met each year with a Directors' Conference and a Mayors' Summit, with the Directors' Conference being convened prior to the Mayors' Summit to discuss and prepare for the relevant matters of the latter. Later, the gathering was changed to meet every two years. The previous eight host cities are Changwon (of ROK, 1st), Weihai (of China, 2nd), Ube (of Japan, 3rd), Komsomolsk-on-Amur (of Russia, 4th), Ansan (of ROK, 5th), Weinan (of China, 6th), Komsomolsk-on-Amur (of Russia, 7th) and Changwon (of ROK, 8th). The 8th Mayors' Summit resulted in the decision to hold the 9th Mayors' Summit in Ma'anshan city of China.

The 9th Mayors' Summit will include the addition of Xuancheng city of China as a new member to UMCA.

(China Daily 09/06/2016 page19)