On Wednesday, July 23, NEAR Secretary-General Lim Byung-jin met with Mr. Adiz Boboyev, Governor of Samarkand Region, Uzbekistan, at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Korea, during the governor's official visit to attend the Korea–Uzbekistan Business Forum.
Secretary-General Lim began by expressing his appreciation to Ambassador Alisher Abdualiyevich Abdusalomov for facilitating the meeting. He introduced the mission and activities of NEAR, provided an overview of the organization’s major events planned for this year, and explained the associate membership system and application process. He encouraged the Samarkand Region to consider joining NEAR as an associate member.
Secretary-General Lim also noted that Uzbek youth will participate in the upcoming NEAR Youth Leaders Forum, scheduled for early August, and requested a video congratulatory message from Ambassador Abdusalomov. In addition, he sought the embassy's support in arranging for an Uzbek cultural performance group to take part in the Tamna Cultural Festival, which will be hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province this October.
In response, Governor Boboyev expressed his interest in NEAR, noting that the meeting had helped him understand the organization's important role in facilitating multilateral cooperation among Northeast Asian local governments. He stated that upon returning to Uzbekistan, he would actively consider Samarkand Region’s application for associate membership.
Following the meeting, Secretary-General Lim attended the opening ceremony and signing ceremony of the Korea–Uzbekistan Business Forum.
Samarkand Region is located in central Uzbekistan, bordering Tajikistan, and is home to a population of approximately four million people. It is widely known as a cultural hub of the Silk Road, and includes the ancient city of Samarkand, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
