On March 13, Secretary-General Lim Byung-jin of the Association of North East Asia Regional Governments (NEAR) met with high-level representatives from Mongolian member governments, including deputy governors and directors, who attended the 2025 NEAR Members Workshop at the Lotte Hotel in Jeju.
Secretary-General Lim first expressed his gratitude for the participation of the Mongolian delegation and shared updates on NEAR’s current direction, activities, and major upcoming events, including the 2025 General Assembly. He encouraged Mongolian member governments to continue actively participating in NEAR’s initiatives.
Deputy Governor Aryunbayar of Dundgovi Aimag noted that “in today’s world, it is more effective for cities and regions to grow together through regional cooperation rather than developing in isolation.” He explained that the Mongolian government is currently promoting regional development by grouping its 21 aimags into seven broader zones. He also remarked that “NEAR serves as a bridge for regional development through multilateral exchange among Northeast Asian local governments” and affirmed plans to continue active participation in NEAR activities.
Ms. Bormantoya, a member of the provincial council of Darkhan-Uul Aimag, stated, “I am honored to attend the NEAR workshop for the first time as a representative of Darkhan-Uul Aimag.” She expressed her anticipation that “this will be a valuable opportunity to gain experience in organizing international events and engaging in international cooperation.”
Deputy Governor Sainchog of Selenge Aimag shared that “this is already my fifth or sixth time meeting the Secretary-General through NEAR events” and conveyed deep appreciation for NEAR’s support in transforming the civil servant training program proposed by Selenge Aimag into a practical initiative.
Deputy Governor Batbataar of Sukhbaatar Aimag expressed his gratitude for the invitation to the workshop and reaffirmed his region’s intention to actively participate in NEAR’s future activities. He emphasized that “Sukhbaatar Aimag has designated this year as the “Year of Capacity Building for Civil Servants,” and we plan to utilize the NEAR platform to further strengthen the capacity of our public officials.”