On Friday, July 4, NEAR Secretary-General Lim Byung-jin visited Irkutsk Region in Russia, where he held talks with Governor Igor Kobzev to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between NEAR and Irkutsk Region.
During the meeting, Secretary-General Lim expressed his gratitude, stating, “Irkutsk Region has been an active participant in NEAR since its inception in 1996, and notably served as the 11th Chair of NEAR from 2014 to 2016.” He also encouraged the region's continued involvement in future NEAR events, including the Tourism Subcommittee and various international forums.
In response, Governor Kobzev stated, “Irkutsk Region’s membership in NEAR is highly significant. NEAR serves as an excellent platform where local governments of Northeast Asia can share cooperation models, best practices, and work together to address common challenges.” He reaffirmed the region’s commitment to actively participating in NEAR activities moving forward.
The meeting was also attended by Ms. Kim Su-mi, Head of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Office in Vladivostok, Russia. Governor Kobzev highlighted the sisterhood relationship between Irkutsk Region and Gyeongsangbuk-do and expressed hope for continued exchanges in both the cultural and economic sectors. He proposed the sustained promotion of various activities such as the Baikal International Forum, Korean Speech Contests, and mutual visits by economic delegations.
Following the meeting, Secretary-General Lim joined Mr. Roman Kolesov, First Deputy Governor of Irkutsk Region, for a luncheon to further discuss ideas for enhancing interregional cooperation.