The Gifu Regional Council for the Promotion of International Exchange General Meeting (Gifu University serving as the secretariat), was held at the meeting hall of the Central Administrative Building on July 4, 2019. Thirty-one organizations attended the meeting.

The Gifu Regional Council for the Promotion of International Exchange was established in February 1990 to facilitate smooth acceptance of international students and exchange in Gifu Prefecture. Its members are: universities, colleges, local governments, economic associations, international exchange organizations and civic bodies. Since its foundation, the presidents of Gifu University have been appointed to be the chair of the council.

In the general meeting on July 4, after President Hisataka Moriwaki's opening remarks, Mr. Yoshihito Ogasawara from the Student Support and Exchange Division, the Higher Education Bureau, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) gave a lecture titled, "Current status and challenges ahead in accepting international students." Dr. Mayumi Yamamoto, Director/Professor of the Health Administration Center (HAC) also delivered a speech, "Actual cases of supporting health maintenance of international students at Gifu University."

The meeting continued for the discussions of the following agenda: partial revisions of rules and regulations for the Gifu Regional Council for the Promotion of International Exchange and its steering committee, activity report and settlement of account in 2018, activity plans and budget for 2019, opening the 18th Japanese Speech Competition by International Students Residing in Gifu Prefecture in November, 2019, and admission of the new members to the council. The meeting ended with some announcements from the council and the Gifu Japan-Brazil Association.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Gifu Regional Council for the Promotion of International Exchange. We are committed to dealing with the rapidly changing situations surrounding international students in Gifu, and will continue to take actions for the benefits of international students and local communities through forming a strong, close network with one another.