On September 25, the 14th NEAR High-Level Working Committee was held in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province. The event drew over 100 representatives from 38 local governments of member regions and affiliated organizations across China, Japan, the ROK, Mongolia, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. Li Lecheng, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Liaoning Committee and Governor of Liaoning Province, met with officials from the NEAR Secretariat and delegates from local governments. Zhang Lilin, Member of Standing Committee of the CPC Liaoning Committee and Vice Governor of Liaoning Province, Xing Haiming, Ambassador of Department of Asian Affairs of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Lim Byung-jin, the NEAR Secretary-General, were present at the opening ceremony with remarks delivered. Representing Ningxia, Bai Yuzhen, Director-General of the Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office, attended and contributed to the sessions with her insights.

In her address, Bai Yuzhen outlined the economic and social progress of Ningxia, informed the attendees about the significant international events scheduled in Ningxia for the coming year, and made proposals for enhancing regional interactions, advancing cooperation programs, and fostering mutual understanding among the peoples through the NEAR platform.

During the conference, Bai met with Dzhumagaziev Kanat, Governor of Chuy Region of Kyrgyzstan, reinforcing Ningxia’s commitment to the international friendship city relations between the two regions. She extended a sincere invitation to the governor to attend the 11th China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum which is to be held in Ningxia at the end of October. The two sides have come to a consensus on bolstering practical cooperation in modern agriculture, desertification control, and youth exchanges.

Bai Yuzhen also met with representatives from Shimane Prefecture of Japan and Gyeongsangbuk-do of the ROK, both international friendship cities of Ningxia. They exchanged views on attending the 2024 China International Friendship Cities Conference and the Fourth Ningxia International Friendship Cities Forum, and discussed possibilities for practical cooperation in high-level visits, higher education, environmental protection, and youth exchanges.

Established in 1996, the Association of Northeast Asia Regional Governments (NEAR) is an international organization comprising provincial-level governments from China, Japan, the ROK, Mongolia, Russia, and the DPRK. It stands as a pivotal multilateral cooperation platform among local governments in Northeast Asia. To date, 81 local governments from the region have joined the NEAR. Ningxia became a member in September 2000, was elected the coordinator government for the NEAR Subcommittee on Tourism in 2018, and hosted the Ninth NEAR General Assembly in 2012.