NEAR Secretary-General Lim Byung-jin held a meeting with representatives from Toyama, Shimane, and Okinawa Prefectures of Japan on June 12, during the 15th NEAR General Assembly held in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
Secretary-General Lim expressed his appreciation for the Japanese delegation's participation in the General Assembly and noted that NEAR has continued to expand its reach over the past two years. With the addition of new full, associate, and special members, the organization has grown into the largest intergovernmental exchange platform in Northeast Asia, now encompassing 91 regional governments across six countries. Highlighting Japan’s significance in the region, he called for the continued active engagement of Japanese member governments to ensure NEAR’s sustainable development.
In response, Mr. Hosokawa, Deputy Director-General for Regional Revitalization of Toyama Prefecture, emphasized the importance of grassroots-level exchange involving citizens and local communities, in addition to government-led cooperation. He expressed hope that NEAR will serve as a vibrant platform for diverse forms of exchange in the future.
Mr. Matsuo, Director of the Department of Cultural and International Affairs of Shimane Prefecture, commended the growing scale of the General Assembly compared to a decade ago. He reaffirmed Shimane’s commitment to youth exchange initiatives through the “Wings of Exchange in Shimane” program, which is part of NEAR’s Subcommittee on Educational and Cultural Exchange.
Ms. Odo, Chief Officer for Regional Diplomacy at the Okinawa Governor's Office, stated that while Okinawa’s international engagement has traditionally focused on the Asia-Pacific region, participation in NEAR presents a valuable opportunity to expand its exchange into Northeast Asia.
During the General Assembly, representatives from Toyama and Shimane Prefectures gave presentations on the activities of their respective subcommittees: on the environment and educational and cultural exchange. Okinawa Prefecture introduced its unique approach to international trade.