NEAR Secretary-General Lim Byung-jin held separate courtesy meetings with delegations from the Standing Committees of the People’s Congresses of Gansu Province, Shandong Province, and Hunan Province, as well as the Political Consultative Conference of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, who attended the 2025 NEAR International Forum was held at the Hilton Gyeongju from Monday, December 8 to Wednesday, December 10. During the meetings, the participants exchanged views on future directions for cooperation with NEAR.
Secretary-General Lim expressed his sincere appreciation to the delegations from Gansu Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Shandong Province, and Hunan Province for attending the forum despite their busy schedules. He emphasized that this event was particularly meaningful as it marked the first international forum organized under the theme of exchanges among local assemblies, at a time when the role of local legislatures is becoming increasingly important. He noted that the forum was held on a large scale, bringing together approximately 100 participants, including representatives from more than 20 NEAR member local assemblies and metropolitan-level regional governments from six countries, as well as members of the diplomatic corps in the Republic of Korea. He expressed hope that this forum would further promote exchanges and strengthen cooperation among local assemblies.
(Left: Zhang Qin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Gansu Province / Right: Hao Mingsheng, Deputy Secretary-General of the CPPCC of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region)
During his meeting with Zhang Qin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Gansu Province, Secretary-General Lim welcomed the delegation and expressed his deep appreciation for Gansu Province's active participation in NEAR activities since becoming a full member in 2023. He highlighted ongoing close cooperation, including his congratulatory remarks at the Gansu Economic, Trade and Agricultural Cooperation Promotion Conference held in Seoul in 2024, participation in the Lanzhou Trade Fair, and attendance at the 8th Dunhuang Cultural Expo. He also expressed hope that Gansu Province would play an even greater role through the NEAR platform, including the establishment of new subcommittees.
In his meeting with Hao Mingsheng, Deputy Secretary-General of the CPPCC of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Secretary-General Lim emphasized Inner Mongolia's important role in NEAR’s energy cooperation. He expressed hope that the 1st NEAR Energy Cooperation Subcommittee, which was successfully held in Ordos City in July last year, would continue to be convened, and stated that the Secretariat would provide full support to enable Inner Mongolia to maintain a leading role in the field of energy cooperation.
(Shi Peiwei, Chair of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Shandong Province)
During his meeting with Shi Peiwei, Chair of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Shandong Province, Secretary-General Lim emphasized that Shandong Province is a founding member of NEAR and a former Chair Member, noting that the NEAR Secretariat places great importance on its cooperation with the province. He highlighted Shandong Province's significant contributions to marine and fisheries cooperation in Northeast Asia Through hosting the Marine and Fisheries Subcommittee nine times. He also noted that cooperation between Shandong Province and the NEAR Secretariat has been further expanded through participation in the Shandong Sister Cities Conference in May and the hosting of the NEAR Marine and Fisheries Subcommittee Meeting in September this year.
(Luo Guoyu, Deputy Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Hunan Province)
During his meeting with Luo Guoyu, Deputy Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Hunan Province, Secretary-General Lim recognized Hunan Province's important role within NEAR as a sister region of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. He noted that Hunan has served as the 12th Chair Member of NEAR since joining in 2005 and oversees the Innovation Plus Subcommittee. He also praised the successful hosting of the 1st Innovation Plus Subcommittee Meeting held in Zhangjiajie in 2024, and expressed his expectation for closer cooperation with Hunan Province in the future.
The Chinese delegations expressed their appreciation for the invitation to the forum, describing it as valuable opportunity for exchanges among local assemblies. They highlighted NEAR's important role in Northeast Asian regional cooperation, and commended its provision of multilateral exchange platform for local assemblies, extending beyond cooperation among local governments in Northeast Asia and Central Asia.
They also expressed hope for closer cooperation with the Secretariat and for expanded exchanges among member local assemblies in the future.