Northeast Asia regional cooperation gets a boost at Ministerial Meeting held in Vladivostok, Russia

15 November, Vladivostok, Russia – A Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI) ministerial-level meeting concluded today with the adoption of the Vladivostok Declaration, including the launch of new institutional structures such as the Business Advisory Council, the Energy Board and the Tourism Council, further strengthening regional cooperation for economic growth and sustainable development in Northeast Asia.

The GTI 9th Consultative Commission meeting brought together high-level officials from China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Mongolia, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Russia, the five countries members of the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI) who reaffirmed their commitment to take full ownership of the GTI and financially support the activities of the Tumen Secretariat.

According to Nataliya Yacheistova, Director of the Tumen Secretariat, “The 9th CC meeting proved to be a turning-point in the intergovernmental cooperation in North-East Asia, marked through the strengthening of the institutional mechanism, creation of the regional platform for public-private dialogue, demonstration of the strong will of all member countries to continue cooperation in key sectors and to promote peaceful, sustainable development in the region”.

A key outcome of the meeting is the establishment of an Energy Board, as a new platform for policy dialogue and common activities to ensure the provision of energy needed for the economic development of Northeast Asia. The creation of the Tourism Council as an advisory council to governments in inter-regional tourism activities also reflects the potential growth of this sector in the Greater Tumen Region.

A number of concrete projects and activities identified by the Member countries were adopted such as the opening of a new ferry route to connect Troitsa (Russia), Sokcho (ROK) and Nigata (Japan) to improve inter-regional transportation, the feasibility study for a new Mongolia-China railway allowing a better access to sea ports and markets for land-locked provinces and the modernization of the Zarubino port in Russia to become a major transit cargo port servicing North East Asia. These initiatives will be submitted as GTI projects to various funding partners, including the private sector at a GTI Investment Forum to take place in Vladivostok on Friday 16 November.

To further support these efforts, a North East Asia Partnership Forum was held on the heels of the Ministerial Meting to discuss investment potential and partnership opportunities in the GTI priority sectors.