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NEAR Secretariat Holds the 2022 NEAR International Forum2022-04-29

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On April 28, the NEAR Secretariat held the 2022 International Forum at POSCO International Hall, Pohang-si, under the theme, Development Strategies for Northeast Asian Farming Villages and the Agro-Food Industry through the Fostering of the Sixth Industry. The forum was both online and offline and it was attended by about 200 participants, including experts and business persons in the agricultural field, and regional government officials from home and abroad. 



This years forum took place for the first time in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The highest number of members participated, 59 regional governments of six different countries, including China(10), Japan(5), Korea(10), Mongolia(22), Russia(11), and Vietnam(1).



Moreover, we were joined by well-recognized international organizations such as the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Assembly of European Regions (AER), International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), and Regions 20 (R20), as well as the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), and members from the academic world, including the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, and the Russian Academy of Science. Most of these organizations were first-time participants, reflecting NEARs elevated status as an international organization in the global community.



The forum commenced with opening remarks from NEAR Secretary-General Kim Ok-chae, congratulatory remarks from Vice-Governor Ha Dae-sung of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and TCS Secretary-General Ou Boqian. Then, Mr. LEE Dong-phil, the former Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, delivered a keynote speech. It was followed by presentations given by experts from Japan, China, Mongolia, Russia, and Korea, and then panel discussions and Q&A sessions.



The presentations were given by Dr. Onish Chie, PhD of the Kyushu-Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, Japan; Prof. Wang Guangbin of Shanxi Agricultural University, China; Assistant Dean T, Nasanjargal. PhD, of Mongolian State University of Agriculture, Mongolia; Dr. Komin Andrey, PhD, of Primorsky State Academy of Agriculture, Russia; and Director Cho Eun-gi, PhD, of the GB Agency on Marketing for Agro-Food & Farmers Academy, Korea. The speakers introduced national polices and good practices of each country and pinpointed challenges to be overcome, evoking empathy from all participants. The discussions following the opening ceremony were moderated by Director Kim Dong-hwan of the Agro-Food New Marketing Institute and followed by panel discussions and Q&A sessions.



In his opening remarks, NEAR Secretary-General Kim Ok-chae, who hosted this international forum, stated, “NEAR should take the lead in overcoming the so-called “Asian Paradox” through exchange and cooperation between local governments in Northeast Asia.” Then he asked the NEAR members to continue to participate actively.