During his visit to Liaoning Province, the incoming NEAR Chair, Secretary-General LIM Byung-jin visited the Korean Consulate General in Shenyang on June 6, 2016, and met with Consul General CHOI Hee-deok. 

Mr. Lim explained the recent developments in Northeast Asia, cooperation among local governments, and the current NEAR activities of the three Northeast provinces under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Shenyang, especially Liaoning Province's decision to become the incoming Chair and the establishment of the Subcommittee on Digital Economy. 

In addition, Mr. Lim requested that the Consulate General in Shenyang make better efforts to encourage Chinese members under its competent jurisdiction to participate more actively in the NEAR activities hereafter.

In response, Mr. Choi welcomed Mr. Lim in his visit to the Korean Consulate General in Shenyang and said that it was an opportunity for him to learn more about NEAR. Moreover, he highly appreciated NEAR's efforts to promote cooperation among local governments at a time when relations between China and Korea are difficult, and said that the Consulate General in Shenyang would actively support NEAR's activities as much as possible.