A delegation from the NEAR Secretariat visited Hunchun City, Jilin Province, China on February 9, 2018 where held a preliminary meeting for the NEAR Subcommittee on International Exchange of Human Resources to be held this September. Both the NEAR Secretariat and Hunchun City government in Jilin Province discussed cooperative means for the establishment of local systems for human resources exchange. The NEAR subcommittee on International Exchange of Human Resources was newly established following a decision at the NEAR Working Committee held last September, aimed at the exchange of foreign human resources in Hunchun City, and for the globalization of the region.

The preliminary meeting was attended by NEAR Secretary-General Hong Jong-kyoung, Acting Director Park Sung-min of the Department of International cooperation, Expert on China, Piao Lijing, and Seconded Official from China, Yu Miaomiao from the NEAR Secretariat. From Jilin Province,
Pǔ chéngzhé Director of Hunchun Party Committee, Xiū lìzhèng Head of Division of Asia Region of Jilin Province Foreign Affairs Office, Zhàoyǒng, Manager of the Committee on Human Resources and Social Security, Zhèng'ēnzhé, officer of Hunchun City Foreign Affairs Office attended.

Furthermore, a delegation from NEAR visited accommodations in the Hunchun Economic Cooperation Zone after the preparatory meeting. Then they visited a major business complex in Hunchun, including Hwaseo Ginseng Biotech Corporation, Hwatang Big-data Service Demonstration Base, and Yanbin University Hunchun Campus, a hub for industry-university cooperation.