On Friday, August 22, NEAR Secretary-General Lim Byung-jin delivered a video congratulatory message at the opening ceremony of “Wings of Exchange in Shimane”, an event hosted by Shimane Prefecture at Matsue Terrsa under the auspices of the NEAR Subcommittee on Educational and Cultural Exchange.
In his message, Secretary-General Lim expressed hopes that young people from Northeast Asia would build bonds of friendship by respecting one another's perspectives and embracing diversity. He further noted, that such experiences would serve as a foundation for them to grow into outstanding leaders who connect their regions with the wider world and contribute to a brighter future for Northeast Asia.
The event, running from Friday, August 22 to Wednesday, August 27, brings together more than 20 youth participants from three countries—Korea, China, and Japan—under the theme “Marine Environment Conservation.” The program includes opinion exchanges and project presentations, traditional cultural experiences, local site visits, and home-stay activities.
Participants include seven representatives from Korea (Gyeongsangbuk-do, Uiduk University, Dongguk University, and Jeju Province), four from China (Jilin Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region), and eight from Japan, along with three supervisors (two from China and one from Korea).
Now in its twenty-third year, “Wings of Exchange in Shimane” is an annual international exchange program organized by Shimane Prefecture as part of the NEAR Subcommittee on Educational and Cultural Exchange. The event aims to promote mutual understanding and broaden international perspectives by fostering cultural exchange and friendship among young people from different countries.