The Preparatory Meeting for the 5th GTI NEA Local Cooperation Committee(LCC) Meeting and the LCC Logistics Sub-Committee (LSC) Working Meeting was concluded on 23th of May 2017 in Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China. The meeting was hosted by the People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in collaboration with the GTI Secretariat, with the aim to review activities done by the GTI NEA LCC since the 4^th GTI NEA LCC Meeting, pre-discuss potential proposals proposed by member provinces, and negotiate preparatory issues on the 5^th GTI NEA LCC Meeting and the 3^rd LSC Meeting.

The meeting began with welcoming remarks by Mr. Guo Gang, Deputy Director General of the Department of Commerce of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Ms. Xu Ailian, Mayor of Manzhouli City. Mr. Tuguldur Baajiikhuu, Director of the GTI Secretariat, delivered an opening speech consecutively and chaired the Preparatory Meeting for the 5^th GTI NEA LCC Meeting.

At the meeting, participants reviewed reports by GTI Secretariat on LCC’s progress made since the 4^th GTI NEA LCC Meeting, discussed in detail project reports by Liaoning Province and Dornod Province, commented on the LCC Action Plan Matrix for 2016-2020, and revised the draft agenda of the 5^th GTI NEA LCC Meeting. Attention was also paid to the arrangement of the joint session with central governments at the 17^th GTI Consultative Commission Meeting and the 2017 GTI International Trade and Investment EXPO.

The LSC Working Meeting was held in the second half of the day. With moderators from GIZ, Gangwon Province and Tottori Prefecture, the Information Sharing Sheet and the Logistics Data for Selected Sea-Land Routes were well reviewed, the Report on the Pilot Route Testing Project by Tottori was discussed in detail, and the project ideas by Heilongjiang Province and the Work Plan for 2017 also came under the spotlight. Participants also reviewed the draft agenda of the 3^rd LSC Meeting which will be held in Heihe, Heilongjiang Province of the People’s Republic of China on 16^th August, 2017, back to back with the 5^th GTI NEA LCC Meeting. During the meeting, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Dornod Province of Mongolia applied to become new members of the committee.

After the meeting, participants visited Manzhouli International Land Port, Manzhouli Comprehensive Free Trade Zone, China – Russia Border Trade District, etc.