As a major activity, the 17th Subcommittee meeting on Education and Cultural Exchange was held on August 18 in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. In total, 28 university students from 6 countries, Shimane Prefecture (8), Japan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (3) and Jilin Province (3), China, Gyoungsangbuk-do Province (8), South Korea, Primorsky Territory (2), Russia, Selenge Province (1) and Khovd Province (1), Mongolia, and Japanese Brazilian students participated in the meeting. The ‘Wings of Northeast Asia Exchange in Shimane' was held between August 18 to 23, and opinions were exchanged concerning environmental policies and the provision of various programs such as homestay and traditional cultural experience.

NEAR Secretary-General Hong Jong-kyoung attended the opening ceremony and delivered a message of encouragement to the participating young adults, greeting the participants in their respective languages, saying that they were the driving force that would lead the future of Northeast Asia. In addition, he stated that the experiences obtained from this event would prove to be greatly useful to them in the future.