WUHAN - The first two overseas non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Hubei Province, central China, were issued registration certificates Thursday, after a law on overseas NGOs took effect on Jan. 1.

The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) from Canada and the Cheongju Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Cheongju CCI) from the Republic of Korea both received certification for their offices at a ceremony in Hubei's capital Wuhan.

The organizations are just two of the first group of NGOs to be certified by the overseas NGOs management office under Hubei public security department.

"We will continue to provide efficient services for NGOs," said Xia Zhibin, deputy director of the department.

Lee Sang Yeon, chief representative of Cheongju CCI office in Hubei, thanked the bureau for its services and said that his office would continue to support economic and trade exchanges between Cheongju and Wuhan.

Last year China adopted a new law that required all overseas NGOs to secure approval from Chinese authorities to operate on the Chinese mainland.

The Ministry of Public Security and provincial police departments are responsible for registration and regulation. All provincial-level police authorities in China can now administer the procedure.