The NEAR Secretary-General met with Chief Secretary Qín Zi of the International Ibis Forum Committee, China and discussed cooperative means through the Ibis among regional governments in Northeast Asia on February 5 (Mon) 2018.

At the meeting, Chief Secretary Qin Zi invited NEAR Secretary-General to the First Ibis International Forum which will be held in Yáng xiàn, Hànzhōng shì in Shaanxi Province, China from May 22 to 24. At the meeting, Secretary-General Hong expressed his interest in attending the forum and wished the event every success, in hopes of expanding the activities throughout Northeast Asia.