On Monday, September 8, NEAR Secretary-General Lim Byung-jin attended the 2025 Marine Cooperation and Development Forum in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. There, he, delivered congratulatory remarks at the forum’s main event, the Dialogue of Mayors of Marine Cities (the 9th NEAR Subcommittee on Ocean and Fisheries).
In his speech, Secretary-General Lim praised the successful convening of the 9th Subcommittee in Qingdao, a leading as a maritime powerhouse. He emphasized that “the ocean is the common asset of humankind, and local governments around the world must work more closely together to ensure its sustainable development.” He also expressed hope that the Dialogue would “serve as a platform to promote tangible cooperation and shared prosperity in the field of marine affairs.”
Held under the theme “The Ocean Makes Cities More Beautiful,” the Dialogue marked the expansion and development of the traditional NEAR Subcommittee on Ocean and Fisheries. The event brought together about 400 participants from more than 20 countries and regions, including China, France, the Maldives, Australia, Korea, Belgium, and Kenya. Participants discussed city governance, marine science and technology, and ecological protection, while also sharing innovative approaches to building resilient cities, marine carbon neutrality, and promoting coastal tourism.
The forum also unveiled the “Global Blue Partnership Qingdao Initiative” and launched the “East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform Blue Economy Development Alliance.”
During the city-sharing session, representatives from Yeosu City (Korea), France, Indonesia, Kenya, and various Chinese coastal cities presented cases on marine ecological conservation, green transition of industries, and smart ocean construction. The business dialogue session explored, diverse cooperation measures in finance and industry.
Following the event, Secretary-General Lim gave interviews with local media, emphasizing the significance of the forum and outline NEAR’s role.
On the sidelines, Secretary-General Lim met with Chinese officials, including Zhou Naixiang, Governor of Shandong Province; Wen Nuan, Vice Governor; Sun Qisheng, Deputy Secretary-General; Chen Baiwei, Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Province; Ren Gang, Mayor of Qingdao; Wang Bo, Vice Mayor of Qingdao; and Yan Dong, Deputy Director-General of the Shandong Ocean Bureau.
Secretary-General Lim also held discussions with international figures, including Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean (and former President of the 71st UN General Assembly); Andrey Tehov, Bulgarian Ambassador to China; Gino Van Begin, Secretary-General of ICLEI; Zhu Shu, Head of ICLEI East Asia Secretariat; Ryu Chang-soo, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Qingdao; and Chung Ki-myeong, Mayor of Yeosu. During these meetings, he introduced NEAR explored potential avenues for cooperation.
Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
(Former President of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly)
Andrey Tehov, Ambassador of Bulgaria to China
Gino Van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
Zhu Shu, Director of ICLEI East Asia Secretariat
Ryu Chang-soo, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Qingdao
Chung Ki-myeong, Mayor of Yeosu, Republic of Korea
Yan Dong, Deputy Director General of the Shandong Provincial Oceanic Administration