Gyeonggi Province Pursues Hosting Northeast Asia Regional Governments General Assembly

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 13th that it has decided to host the next general assembly of the Association of North East Asia Regions (NEAR), an international consultation body for local governments in the Northeast Asia region.

Vice Governor Jeong Chang-seop, who attended the 6th General Assembly of the Northeast Asia Regional Local Governments Association held in Busan on that day, expressed Gyeonggi Province's intention to host the 7th General Assembly scheduled for 2010, while also conveying its willingness to establish and host a Science and Technology Subcommittee under the General Assembly.

The Northeast Asia Regional Local Governments Association, which was launched in 1996 with the goal of inter-regional exchange and cooperation and mutual prosperity, has participation from 40 local governments across 6 countries including South Korea, Japan, and Russia, and operates 6 subcommittees.

To attract the next General Assembly, the province plans to invite approximately 40 people including General Assembly participants and executive members of the secretariat and hold a tour soon introducing the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX), Paju English Village, and cultural heritage sites such as Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.

The province also plans to establish and host a Science and Technology Subcommittee under the General Assembly, and based on Gyeonggi Province's science and technology infrastructure, lead the growing dynamism of the Northeast Asia region in the future.