Director Wakatsuki Shinju of Cultural and International Division of Shimane Prefecture visited NEAR Secretariat in the morning on November 10. Director Wakatsuki Shinji exchanged views on NEAR ‘s development way and international exchange between Korea and Japan, especially, exchange activities between Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Shimane Prefecture by meeting with Secretary General and NEAR staffs and decided to make its efforts for it. The visit to Korea by Director Wakatsuki Shinji was for granting ‘Shimane Prefecture’s Governor Prize’ participating in ‘Japanese Speech Contest‘hosted by Japanese Consulate in Busan on November 7 and he also visited the NEAR Secretariat. Shimane Prefecture held the 1st meeting of the Association of Northeast Asia Regional Governments before the founding of the Association and has conducted international exchange programs aimed at youths in NEAR regions as a coordinator of the Sub-Committee on Educational and Cultural Exchange. Matsuo Shuichiro has been working since he was seconded from Shimane Prefecture to the Secretariat in March.