the Press Conference on the 7th plenary Session of the Union of Northeast Asian Local Governments

(at 2: 30 pm, on Aug 26, 2008, at the Minor Auditorium on the fourth floor of the Nanjiao Hotel Club)

Huang Zecun,director of the Publicity Office of Shandong Provincial Party Committee and of the Information Office of Shandong Provincial People`s Government

Huang Zecun:Good afternoon, friends from the press, ladies and gentlemen.

Huang Zecun:When the whole nation is celebrating the complete success of the Beijing Olympic Games, our province will host another important international activity -- the 7th plenary meeting of the Union of Northeast Asian Local Governments will be held in Jinan from September 1 to 4. Today, we hold a provincial press conference and have invited Mr Zhang Jigang, deputy director and spokesman of the Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, to give us a briefing and answer journalists` questions.

Huang Zecun:Next, Mr. Zhang Jigang will give us a briefing the 7th plenary session of the Union of Northeast Asian Local Governments.

Zhang Jigang :Good afternoon, friends from the press, ladies and gentlemen.

Zhang Jigang :The Union of Northeast Asian Local Governments was established in September 1996, and the Union was proposed by the representatives of 29 local governments of China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia at North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Its purpose is to promote the exchange and cooperation between the local governments in Northeast Asia and to push forward the common prosperity and development in Northeast Asia. The Union holds a plenary session every two years, and it has met six times respectively in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea; Toyama Prefecture and Hyogo Prefecture, Japan; Khabarovsk Territory, Russia; Heilongjiang Province, China; Busan Metropolitan City, South Korea. Since the establishment of the Union, it developed very quickly and now it has 64 full members from six countries--China, Japan, Korea, North Korea, Mongolia, and Russia--- observers and non-members which often participate in its activities, and the total number of the local governments involved amounts to nearly 80. At present the Union`s secretariat is located in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.

Zhang Jigang :Our province joined the Union at the fifth plenary session of the Union in 2004 and became its full member. At the sixth plenary session held in 2006, our province proposed to host the seventh plenary session and the proposal was approved. In September 2007, our province held the Union`s affairs session on the preparations for the seventh plenary session and the meeting’s agenda, and the meeting reached an agreement that the seventh plenary session will be held from September 1 to 4.
Present at the meeting will be about 210 representatives of 49 local governments from China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, and Russia and of one association, including 160 Chinese and foreign representatives from 39 local governments of Japan, South Korea, Mongolia and Russia and one association. Of the guests, there are 9 governors, and 18 officials of deputy provincial rank, of whom, 8 governors and 12 vice-governors are from abroad. The Chinese representatives are from ten provinces such as Shandong and Heilongjiang. This will be the largest international local governments` meeting in our province`s history.

Zhang Jigang :The plenary session will listen to the reports of the Affairs Committee, the Special Committee and the Secretariat, and listen to the opinions and suggestions made by the provinces and states on strengthening the exchange and cooperation in Northeast Asia and the development of the Union itself. Such affairs as the next plenary session, the re-election of the Secretariat, and the establishment of a special committee will be discussed and voted on and Shandong Declaration will be signed jointly. The representatives will attend the Third International Green Industry Exposition & the Northeast Asian Environmental Protection Industry Conference hosted by our province.

Zhang Jigang :During the meeting, Secretary Jiang Yikang and Governor Jiang Daming will meet with the representatives, Chen Haosu, president of Chinese People`s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, will deliver a speech. Vice-governor Cai Limin will chair the plenary session and Governor Jiang Daming will deliver a keynote speech. Our province will submit the proposal to establish a special committee on ocean and fishery. The representatives will also attend the performance of Acrobatic Beijing Opera "Qilu Charm • On the Stage", and make an inspection tour of Qufu and Tai`an.

Zhang Jigang :We hope that friends from the media will, as always, give attention and support to the meeting and give extensive publicity and coverage to it, to create a good atmosphere of public opinion.

Zhang Jigang :Thank you!

Zhang Jigang :Today`s press conference is over now. Thank you.