On Friday, September 12, NEAR Secretary-General Lim Byung-jin attended and delivered congratulatory remarks at the 2025 NEAR Subcommittee on Tourism held in Zhongwei, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. This year's meeting convened under the theme, “Sharing Opportunities for Tourism Cooperation, Creating the Future of Tourism Together.”
The Subcommittee, hosted by the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region for the first time, brought together more than 120 participants representing 16 NEAR member governments, two observers, three related organizations, the Korean Association of Provincial Governors’ Office in China, the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Xi’an, as well as Jiangxi Province, which is considering NEAR membership.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Bai Yuzhen, Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Ningxia. Welcoming remarks were delivered by Dong Ling, Vice Chair of the Ningxia People’s Congress (vice-ministerial level), followed by congratulatory addresses from NEAR Secretary-General Lim, Liu Guoqiang, Party Secretary of Zhongwei City; Cherengbadang Gansukh, Deputy Governor of Khövsgöl Aimag (Mongolia); and Vyacheslav Sukhorukov, Vice Premier of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia.
In his address, Secretary-General Lim commended Ningxia for successfully organizing its first Tourism Subcommittee, noting the region's rich tourism resources and international experience. He expressed hope that the Subcommittee would develope into a key platform for Northeast and Central Asia to strengthen cooperation in tourism, promote cultural-tourism, integration, and advance sustainable eco-tourism.
Vice Chair Dong described Ningxia as the “treasure land of Western China,” rich in history and cultural resources. He underscored the region’s role as a core NEAR member and reaffirmed its commitment to fostering mutual understanding and cooperation through tourism. He called on member governments to open a new chapter of openness, cooperation, and shared benefits.
During the main session, promotional presentations were delivered by:
- Batmunkh Narangbayar, Deputy Governor of Bayankhongor Aimag (Mongolia)
- Sun Lei, Deputy Director-General, Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism (China)
- Tsydbopova Bayarma, Deputy Director, Tourism Department of the Republic of Buryatia (Russia)
- Liu Bao, Second-Class Inspector, Henan Province (China)
- Nakazato Kazuyuki, Deputy Director, Okinawa Prefectural Government Office (Japan)
- Liu Dan, Representative, Hongfugu District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province (China)
- Kim Hyun-sook, Chief Representative, Daegu City Shanghai Office (Korea)
- Li Juan, Promotion Officer, Western Xia Imperial Tombs Scenic Area, Ningxia (China)
<Promotional Presentation by B. Narangbayar, Vice Governor of Bayankhongor Aimag>
<Promotional Presentation by Sun Lei, Deputy Director General of the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, China>
<Promotional Presentation by Bayarma Tsydypova, Deputy Director of the Tourism Agency of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia>
<Promotional Presentation by Liu Bao, Level-2 Inspector of Henan Province, China>
<Promotional Presentation by Kazuyuki Nakazato, Deputy Director of the Okinawa Prefectural Government Office in China, Japan>
<Promotional Presentation by Zhao Huaizhi, Party Leadership Member of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China>
A special exhibition zone showcased local specialties such as, Zhongwei’s goji berries and apples, along with intangible cultural heritage displays, and promotional materials from NEAR members.
Delegates also visited major sites such as the Shapotou Scenic Area, the Shapotou Desert Control Demonstration Zone, and the Starry Sky Campsite, where they observed Ningxia’s achievements in ecological protection and integrated cultural tourism development.
In interviews with local and national media outlets, including Zhongwei Daily, Ningxia Daily, Ningxia Economic Daily, and China Daily, Secretary-General Lim identified key challenges facing regional tourism cooperation, such as the homogeneity of tourism development, insufficient transport connectivity, and the need to adapt to shifting market demands. He emphasized the importance of strengthening communication among local governments, learning from each other's experiences continuously developing distinctive tourism products, and promoting them through diverse channels.
