- NEAR International Forum 2023 and the 14th Subcommittee 

on Economy and Humanities Exchange Held in Gyeongju-si 

under the theme, "In the Era of Transformation, 

Local Government Cooperation in Northeast Asia"

- This marked the largest gathering of its kind, with 38 members from 5 countries participating, all focused on exploring ways for mutual prosperity in Northeast Asia   

Jointly organized by Gyeongsangbuk-do and the Association of North East Asia Regional Governments (NEAR), the NEAR International Forum 2023 and the 14^th Subcommittee on Economy and Humanities Exchange took place in Gyeongju-si between December 6 and 8.

The forum and subcommittee meeting were themed, "In the Era of Transformation, Local Government Cooperation in Northeast Asia" and attended by more than 200 delegates of 38 local governments and related organizations from five countries including China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia, the largest gathering of local governments in Northeast Asia amidst the recent tensions in the region.

The highlights of the event on December 7 included the Opening Ceremony, International Forum: Expert Session, the Subcommittee on Economy and Humanities Exchange: Special Lecture Session, and the Local Government Session. The program concluded with local tours on December 8.

During the Opening Ceremony, NEAR Secretary-General LIM Byung-jin delivered the opening speech. Subsequent congratulatory remarks were given by distinguished speakers, including LEE Dal-hee, vice-governor for Economic Planning, Gyeongsangbuk-do, JOO Nak Young, mayor of Gyeongju-si, and LEE Hee-sup, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), YU Shenfei, Chinese deputy consul-general in Busan, DUDNIK Oxana, Russian consul-general in Busan, and PARK Jung Sook, WeGo secretary-general. Additionally, Mayor LEE Kang-deok of Pohang-si conveyed a congratulatory message to commemorate the opening ceremony.

In his opening remarks, NEAR Secretary-General Lim expressed, "The current global and Northeast Asian political landscape is marked by intricate dynamics involving cooperation, competition, and confrontation, making local and private level exchanges even more crucial in such times." He continued, "Let's enact diverse exchange and cooperation initiatives through NEAR, the largest multilateral exchange platform in Northeast Asia, encompassing 81 local governments from six countries.

In her congratulatory remarks, Vice-Governor LEE Dal-hee remarked, "The world is grappling with complex challenges such as hegemonic competition rooted in interests, a global economic crisis, issues of food security, and climate change. At this juncture, let us, the Northeast Asian region, deeply interconnected historically, culturally, and geographically, unite and collectively prepare for the future, with NEAR at the center of our efforts."

During the Expert Session, international specialists from five countries delivered presentations and engaged in discussions on the theme, “In the Era of Transformation, Local Government Exchange and Cooperation in Northeast Asia.” The session was moderated by SHIN Bongkil, president of the Korean Council on Foreign Relations.

The session commenced with a presentation by DA Zhigang, a second-level researcher of the Northeast Asia Research Institute at Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, China. He provided insights into △"Assessing the Current Political Landscape in Northeast Asia and Proposing Strategies for Deepening Regional Cooperation." Following this, HABA Kumiko, president of the International Studies Association, Asia Pacific Region, delivered a speech entitled, △“Make East Asia a Center of Peace and Prosperity.” Subsequently, LEE Hyuk, president of the Korea Japan Future Forum and former Korean ambassador to Vietnam, gave a presentation on △“Exchange and Cooperation among Local Governments in the Changing Political Landscape in Northeast Asia.”

Addressing the issues of △"Conflict, Environmental Degradation, Cooperation and Mongolian Solutions in Northeast Asian Countries," JAMIYAN Battur, a professor at the National University of Mongolia shared his insights in the next presentation.

The session concluded with a presentation by LUKIN Alexander, director of the Center for East Asian and Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. His presentation focused on △"Sino-Russian Interregional Cooperation as a Model for Regional Players of Northeast Asia."

Following the presentations, panel discussions ensued, featuring insights from LI Ruifeng, a professor at the Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, China, and SHIN Bong-seop, a professor of International Relations at KwangWoon University Graduate School and former Korean consul-general in Shenyang, China.

Additionally, KIM Hyeongsoo, president of the Korean Association of Northeast Studies (KNEA) and professor at Dankook University, joined the panel alongside DANKOV Artem, a professor at Tomsk State University. Together, they delved into an in-depth exploration of the current political situations in Northeast Asia and provided the overview of the ongoing intergovernmental exchanges.

Both speakers and panelists reached a consensus on the imperative for local governments to proactively spearhead efforts in establishing an environment devoid of recurring confrontations and conflicts that have marked the region's history, as the escalating US-China hegemonic competition and the ongoing war in Ukraine have contributed to the growing instability in Northeast Asia.

Furthermore, the participants identified the necessity for concentrated exchanges in domains less constrained by diplomatic and security considerations, notably in the realms of culture, arts, and tourism. 

During the Special Lecture Session of the Subcommittee on Economy and Humanities Exchange, participants engaged in a valuable discussion, focusing on the areas and directions of cooperation among local governments in Northeast Asia. The session encompassed an examination of cooperation prospects in the fields of △environment, emphasizing regional collaboration to strengthen sustainable development policies and financial resources, △youth, covering topics such as Korea's youth policy and international youth exchange, and △industrial cooperation in Northeast Asia, considering the direction of collaboration in the era of strategic competition.

This year marked a significant development as the local government session was conducted separately for the first time. Twelve local governments utilized this platform to introduce themselves, showcase their policies, and propose collaborative initiatives for future exchanges. This initiative laid a practical foundation for fostering cooperation and exchange among local governments in Northeast Asia. Notably, in Gyeongsangbuk-do, CHAE Jin-weon, ambassador for international affairs, presented "The Era of Local Governments Led by Gyeongsangbuk-do through Transformation with Its K-U City Project." This presentation garnered significant attention from representatives of other local governments in Northeast Asia.

Furthermore, alongside the NEAR International Forum and the Subcommittee on Economy and Humanities Exchange, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, convened a meeting focused on secondary battery cooperation. This exemplified the proactive exchange and cooperation activities taking place among local governments in Northeast Asia.