On September 22, Secretary-General LIM Byung-Jin attended and delivered a congratulatory speech at the 8th NEAR Subcommittee Meeting on Oceans and Fisheries (Northeast Asia Marine Green Low-carbon High-quality Development Forum) co-hosted by NEAR and the Shandong Provincial Government. 

Mr. Lim, in his congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony said, "Shandong Province is the most successful member of NEAR subcommittees, and since the establishment of the Subcommittee, 29 member local governments from five countries in Northeast Asia have visited Shandong Province, an advanced region in marine fisheries, six times through the subcommittee meetings, making it a well-established international exchange and cooperation platform that paves the way for mutual co-existence." 

The subcommittee meeting, which was held in Weihai City, Shandong Province, was themed, "Leading Green Technology, Empowering Digital Capabilities." The event began with an opening ceremony, and presentations, followed by four sub-forums. In addition to NEAR members, including China, Korea, and Japan, it was attended by more than 300 participants, including representatives from international organizations, maritime enterprises, and maritime-related educational and research institutions. Furthermore, congratulatory remarks were delivered by FAN Bo, vice-governor of Shandong Province, YAN Jianbo, party secretary of Weihai City, KIM Hee-hyun, vice-governor of Jeju Special Self-governing Province (online), and KIM Joong-kwon, director of the Pan East Sea Regional Headquarters, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province (online).