On March 18, Russian Ambassador to Korea Georgy Zinoviev sent a letter of appreciation to NEAR Secretary-General Lim Byung-jin for the invitation to attend the 2025 NEAR Members Workshop.
In his letter, Ambassador Zinoviev stated that Russia recognizes NEAR as an important platform that promotes exchange and cooperation among local governments and contributes to shared prosperity. He expressed his expectation that the NEAR platform would also serve as a valuable tool for enhancing Korea-Russia relations. He further noted that NEAR has demonstrated its value not only through its expansion but also through the various events successfully held over the past year. He affirmed Russia’s commitment to actively participate in NEAR’s future activities, including economic and humanitarian exchanges.
Ambassador Zinoviev previously attended the 2025 NEAR Members Workshop, which was held on March 12 at the Lotte Hotel in Jeju. There, he delivered a congratulatory address and attended the official welcome dinner.
In his remarks, Ambassador Zinoviev highly praised NEAR, stating:
“NEAR has established itself as a solid platform for multilateral cooperation in the Northeast Asian region. It has contributed significantly to promoting peace and prosperity in the region. Through its 19 specialized subcommittees covering various fields, NEAR is enabling its member governments to fully leverage their strengths and implement a balanced development strategy for Northeast Asia.”