On October 24, Secretary-General LIM Byung-jin met with Vice Governor POTEMKIN Vasilii from Tomsk Region, Russia.  Mr. Potemkin was in Ulsan Metropolitan City to attend the 14th NEAR General Assembly, where both parties engaged in discussions on mutual concerns.

During the meeting, Mr. Lim extended his gratitude to Mr. Potemkin and his delegation for their presence at the General Assembly despite the challenging international circumstances.  He highlighted the historic significance of the event, being the largest-ever assembly in terms of high-level participation and the number of participating regions.  Mr. Lim also appealed for the continued interest and support of Tomsk Region for NEAR, urging active participation in NEAR activities.

In response, Mr. Potemkin expressed his appreciation for the invitation and congratulated NEAR on the successful hosting of the General Assembly.  He provided a detailed overview of the current situation in Tomsk Province. Emphasizing NEAR as a valuable platform for cooperation among local governments in Northeast Asia, he conveyed his eagerness to actively engage in NEAR Secretariat activities and various subcommittees. He also expressed his commitment to fostering exchanges in areas such as youth, culture, and education.