A delegation of NEAR Secretariat led by Secretary General Lee, Hae Doo visited Pattaya, Thailand to participate in Green City Workshop on 14 July and in the 2^nd UCLG ASPAC Congress from 15-18 July in an effort to promote NEAR as an international organization and build up partnership with other associations. The Workshop, a joint undertaking of UN/ISDR, the World Bank, GFDRR and UCLG ASPAC, was held under the theme of “Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts and Related Natural Disasters in Asia,” bringing together administrative authorities, environment experts and international organizations including UNEP, UNESCO, UNESCAP and UN-HABITAT. During the workshop, a Primer on Climate Change Impacts in Urban Areas of East Asia was officially launched.

Meanwhile, during the UCLG ASPAC Congress, Kim Bum-Il, Mayer of Daegu Metropolitan City, Korea was elected co-president of the organization. Also, Secretary General Lee was appointed member of Expert Group Meeting held in concurrence with the Congress in preparation for the 4^th Session of the World Urban Forum(WUF-4). The WUF-4 is scheduled to be held in Nanjing, China in November 2008.