On Wednesday, August 20, NEAR Secretary-General Lim Byung-jin met with H.E. Georgy Zinoviev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Korea, and his delegation during their visit to the NEAR Secretariat. Ambassador Zinoviev was accompanied by Ms. Oksana Doudnik, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Busan.
Secretary-General Lim warmly welcomed Ambassador Zinoviev and Consul General Doudnik, expressing his gratitude for the consistent support provided by the Russian Embassy in Korea and the Consulate General in Busan in strengthening cooperation with the NEAR Secretariat and encouraging the active participation of Russian member governments in NEAR activities.
He emphasized that with the Republic of Buryatia assuming the NEAR Chairmanship, close cooperation with the Russian Embassy and Consulate General has become even more crucial. He also shared the key outcomes of his recent visit to Russia and outlined plans for upcoming NEAR events to be hosted by Russian local governments, including the NEAR Senior Officials’ Meeting and the Subcommittee on Traditional Medicine to be held in Buryatia in 2026, as well as the World Youth Festival to be hosted in Krasnoyarsk Krai. He reaffirmed the Secretariat’s full commitment to supporting these initiatives.
Secretary-General Lim further noted that the upcoming APEC Summit, to be held in Gyeongju from October 31 to November 1, is expected to mark as a positive turning point for Korea-Russia relations as well as for peace and stability in Northeast Asia and beyond. He expressed hope for Russia’s active interest and participation.
In addition, he highlighted the growing interest of Korean NEAR member governments in the Arctic Sea Route, noting that Pohang Yeongil New Port, where the NEAR Secretariat is headquartered, is making actively preparing for the Arctic shipping era through infrastructure expansion. He requested the attention and support of the Embassy and Consulate General in this regard.
In response, Ambassador Zinoviev commended NEAR’s role in promoting cooperation among local governments in Northeast Asia and expressed deep appreciation for the Secretariat’s efforts to strengthen exchanges between Russian local governments and their counterparts in Korea and across the region.
He emphasized that the development of the Arctic Sea Route carries significant strategic importance not only for Russia but also for all of Northeast Asia, and expressed willingness to explore ways to support the growth of Pohang Yeongil New Port as a hub linked to the route. He further noted his expectation that the upcoming APEC Summit would provide a new opportunity for the recovery of Korea-Russia relations and pledged efforts to expand cooperation in a constructive and future-oriented manner.
Note: On August 20, the NEAR Secretariat also arranged Ambassador Zinoviev’s meeting with Pohang Mayor Lee Kang-deok along with a field briefing at Yeongil New Port.