Lim Byung-jin, the Secretary-General of the Association of North East Asia Regional Governments (NEAR), met with the delegation from Jilin Province led by XIU Lizheng, the Second Class Inspector of Foreign Affairs Office of Jilin Province and exchanged views on cooperation plans.
※ XIU Lizheng , the Second Class Inspector of Foreign Affairs Office of Jilin Province, MO Xufeng, the official from Foreign Affairs Office of Jilin Province, LI Zhe, the Chief Representative of the Seoul Representative Office of Yanbian Prefecture, and YIN Bin, the Head of the External Cooperation Department, attended the meeting. In addition to Mr. Xiu, MO Xufeng, the meeting was attended by the official from the Foreign Affairs Office of Jilin Province, LI Zhe, the Chief Representative of the Seoul Representative Office of Yanbian Prefecture, and YIN Bin, the Head of the External Cooperation Department.
Secretary-General Lim introduced the current status of NEAR, the activities of Chinese member governments, and this year’s major NEAR events. He also expressed gratitude to Jilin Province for recommending civil servants to work at NEAR Secretariat, participating in the Civil Servants Training Program, engaging in various NEAR activities, and maintaining close cooperation with NEAR. Secretary-General Lim expressed hope that Jilin Province, with its strategic location in Northeast Asia, will make full use of the NEAR platform, such as assuming the role of NEAR Chair Government and establishing a special committee aligned with the province’s development goals to further promote the growth of both Jilin Province and the broader Northeast Asia region.
Mr. Xiu stated that based on Secretary-General Lim’s detailed explanation, he had learnt more about the important role of NEAR in local cooperation in Northeast Asia. He expressed his appreciation for the NEAR Secretariat for valuing its collaboration with Jilin Province, and indicated that Jilin Province would continue to focus on NEAR and strengthen the cooperation. In addition, he extended invitations to Secretary-General Lim for the Northeast Asia Local Cooperation Roundtable Meeting and the China-Northeast Asia Expo in August and asked for active attention and support from the NEAR Secretariat.
The Northeast Asia Local Cooperation Roundtable Meeting is an international conference first held in Jilin Province in 2019. It is attended by provincial leaders and representatives from China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia, and Russia, and it aims to promote cooperation and prosperity in the region. The fourth Northeast Asia Local Cooperation Roundtable Meeting will be held in Changchun, Jilin Province, from August 25 to 26.
This year’s 15th China-Northeast Asia Expo is an international comprehensive exhibition hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and Jilin Provincial People’s Government. Government leaders and business representatives from six Northeast Asian countries are expected to attend. The exhibition will take place in Changchun, Jilin Province, from August 27 to 31, following the roundtable meeting.