Secretary-General Lim Byung-jin, held meetings with delegations from Toyama, Hyogo, and Shimane Prefectures of Japan, who were visiting Gyeongju, attend the 2026 NEAR Member Workshop on 18 March.
Secretary-General Lim expressed his gratitude for their attendance. He emphasized that this workshop serves a significant purpose, noting that, amid intensifying international tensions and conflicts between central governments, exchange and cooperation among local governments can act as a buffer, contributing to the association’s core objective of common prosperity and peace in Northeast Asia. The workshop was attended by over 130 participants, including 44 member governments and four distinguished guests such as Kim Sook, Executive Director of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation (former UN Ambassador); the Governors Association of Korea (GAOK), the Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS); and various Consuls General in Busan.
Furthermore, he provided information on upcoming events, including the High-level Working Committee to be held in the Republic of Buryatia (the current Chair Government) and five Sub-committee meetings, including the Traditional Medicine Sub-committee, along with six other Secretariat-led events. He requested active participation and support from Japan, stating that as Japanese local governments were the first to experience and seek solutions for shared regional challenges, such as aging populations, low birth rates, and urban redevelopment, sharing their expertise would contribute to the development of Northeast Asia and enhance the standing of Japanese regional governments in a win-win scenario.
He encouraged the delegations to make effective use of the NEAR platform, including one-on-one exchanges, and expressed hopes that they would gain meaningful insights during their stay in the historic city of Gyeongju.
In response, Director Matsuo of Shimane Prefecture expressed his gratitude for the invitation but explained that in-person attendance at the High-level Working Committee would be difficult due to current Japanese central government restrictions on visiting Russia. Secretary-General Lim noted that, in consideration of this, he is consulting with the Chair Government, the Republic of Buryatia, regarding online participation options for Japanese member governments.
Team Leader Tokunaga of Hyogo Prefecture stated their intention to engage with various member governments during the workshop, including a one-on-one exchange with their sister jurisdiction, Gyeongsangnam-do. In reply, Secretary-General Lim welcomed Hyogo Prefecture's first attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic and requested their continued active participation.
Coordinator Yoshino of Toyama Prefecture explained that while Toyama will assume the role of Resident Officer starting this April, dispatching personnel directly to the Secretariat remains difficult. Therefore, the duties will be performed from within the Toyama Prefectural Government. In response, Secretary-General Lim requested that Toyama communicate and make efforts to encourage neighboring member governments, such as Ishikawa, Fukui, and Niigata, to actively participate in NEAR activities.