The 2008 NEAR Working-Level Workshop was held on 27-30 May in Gyeongsangbuk-Do Province, Korea, attended by more than 100 officials from 42 local governments from China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia and Russia. The meeting was intended to discuss measures to promote development of NEAR and to expand exchange among its members. During the 1^st session, Gyeongsangbuk-Do Province of Korea raised the necessity of introducing membership fee so that NEAR can come up with independent projects of common interest, which was emphasized by Selenge Province, Mongolia as well. Meanwhile, Khabarovsk Territory of Russia suggested on-line information exchange on economic affairs among NEAR member regions.

   The second session was dedicated to the promotion of local governments and international events, including “the 2008 NEAR Assembly and Int’l Green Exhibition (Shandong Province),” “2012 Yeosu World Exposition (Jeollanam-Do Province),” “The Status of Int’l Exchange of Tottori (Tottori Prefecture),” to name just a few.