Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan urged provincial governments Monday to place their top priority on boosting the economy and supporting people’s livelihoods.

In his meeting with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, Choi also said that Seoul City should lead other municipalities in economic stimulus efforts.

This marked the first meeting between a finance minister and a mayor of Seoul since 2006. Seoul is the country’s largest city, where more than 10 million people live out of the total population of around 50 million.

“Now is the time for the central government and municipalities to prioritize reviving the economy and stabilizing people’s livelihoods,” Choi said during the breakfast meeting held in central Seoul. “In particular, Seoul is in a position to lead other municipalities.”

Choi also urged municipalities to do their best in tackling regulations that might hamper private investment and consumption. (Yonhap)