On July 5, Secretary-General LIM Byung-jin attended a reception and welcome dinner hosted for the delegations participating in the Gansu Investment and Trade Consultation Meeting, a national-level Expo held in Gansu Province.

      HU Changsheung, Secretary of Gansu Province      CHEONG Xiaobo, Vice Governor of Gansu Province                                    

During the welcome dinner, Mr. Lim had the opportunity to meet with several prominent figures, including Secretary HU Changsheng, Governor REN Zhenhe,  and Vice Governor CHEONG Xiaobo of Gansu Province. Mr. Lim explained about NEAR and extended an invitation for Gansu to join, Mr. Hu expressed his familiarity with NEAR and a positive inclination towards Gansu's potential membership.

               ZHANG Gong, Mayor of Tianjin City                     ZHAO Long, Governor of Fujian Province

Additionally, at the welcome dinner, Mr. Lim engaged with other senior government leaders, including ZHANG Gong, mayor of Tianjin City, ZHAO Long, governor of Fujian Province, ZHANG Shuping, vice governor of Fujian Province, and representatives from Liaoning Province. He introduced NEAR to them and encouraged their consideration of NEAR membership, particularly emphasizing Gansu, Tianjin, and Fujian.

ZHANG Baojun, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, Gansu Province

Following the dinner, Mr. Lim held a meeting with ZHANG Baojun, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Gansu Province, during which he conveyed the expressed interest of Mr. Hu’s interest in joining NEAR. Mr. Zhang provided an overview of Gansu's economy, culture, and foreign relations, expressing his commitment to ensuring Gansu's membership be officially recognized at the upcoming 14th Ulsan General Assembly scheduled for October.