HOU Rui, a new government official seconded from Gansu Province to the NEAR Secretariat, received a letter of appointment from Secretary-General LIM Byung-jin on May 8.

As a seconded officer in the Department of the International Cooperation of the NEAR Secretariat, Ms. Hou will be in charge of liaison and coordination with the Chinese member regional governments. Ms. Hou has ten years’ worth of experience working at the Foreign Affairs Office of Baiyin City in Gansu Province, China, and is expected to successfully carry out her assignments for the NEAR Secretariat.

Meanwhile, Deputy-Director CHO Sun Hwa, who served the Department of International Cooperation at the NEAR Secretariat since October 2020, resigned in May 2024. Mr. Lim presented a letter of appreciation to Ms. Cho to deeply recognize her contribution to the NEAR Secretariat development. While working at the Secretariat, Ms. Cho played a significant role in Liaoning Province's appointment to NEAR chair, Gansu Province's joining NEAR membership, and strengthening cooperation with other Chinese member regions.