On December 6, Secretary-General LIM Byung-jin met with a Russian delegation visiting Gyeongju to attend the NEAR International Forum 2023 and the 14th Subcommittee on Economy and Humanities Exchange to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Expressing his gratitude for their participation, Mr. Lim highlighted the significance of this International Forum, underscoring its status as the largest ever in terms of participants and organization. He specifically acknowledged the active involvement of the Irkutsk and Tomsk Regions in NEAR, with their deputy governors attending the 14th General Assembly. He sought their continued interest and support for NEAR activities in the future.

Ms. VASILYEVA Svetlana, deputy minister of Economic Development and Industry of the Irkutsk Region, conveyed appreciation for the invitation, emphasizing the Irkutsk Region’s commitment to collaboration with NEAR and its continued active engagement in various NEAR activities. Additionally, she conveyed her anticipation and hope for Mr. Lim’s visit to the Irkutsk Region.

DANKOV Artem, a professor at Tomsk State University, expressed his gratitude for being invited to participate in the Forum as a discussant and highly appreciated NEAR as a valuable platform.

LUKIN Alexander, director of the Center for East Asian and Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, at University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, spoke at the NEAR International Forum, underscoring he timeliness of the Forum’s theme, "In the Era of Transformation, Local Government Cooperation in Northeast Asia," and highlighting the crucial role of local cooperation.

Russian delegates, including representatives from the Irkutsk and Tomsk Regions, actively participated in the NEAR International Forum and the 14th Subcommittee on Economy and Humanities Exchange, with some attending offline and others joining online. TUPIKIN Vyacheslav, minister of Economic Development of the Republic of Altai and five others from the Republic of Buryatia, Zabaikalsky Territory, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Kamchatka Territory, and Tomsk Region joined remotely. 

In addition, DUDNIK Oxana, consul-general of the Russian Federation in Busan, delivered a congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony.