Deputy Secretary General Lee Young Hwa participated in the opening ceremony of the "2008 Wings of Exchange in Shimane" held on 7-12 August in Shimane Province and delivered a message of hope for a deeper mutual understanding and stronger human network in Northeast Asia in his congratulatory remarks.

The event brought together 37 officials and youths from China (Ninxia Hui Autonomous Region, Jilin Province), Japan (Shimane Prefecture), Mongolia (Dornod -, Umnu-govi Province) and Russia (Republic of Sakha, Primorsky Territory) and provided various programs of exchange, including presentations on each country and region, cultural inspection, environmental study, sport games and home stay.