7th GTI NEA Local Cooperation Committee (LCC) Meeting, the 5th LCC Logistics Sub-Committee (LSC) Meeting, and the 6th Local Development Forum were successfully held on 24th August 2019 in Khentii Province of Mongolia. The meeting was hosted by Khentii Provincial Government in collaboration with the GTI Secretariat, with the participation of Governors of Khentii Province and Dornod Province, senior officials from central government of Mongolia, Jilin Province, Heilongjiang Province, Liaoning Province, Tottori Prefecture, Busan Metropolitan City, Gangwon Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Yingkou City, Fuxin City, and representatives from private sector and international organizations. The meeting reviewed the progress of LCC activities and discussed new project proposals and ideas proposed by LCC members.

The meeting began with welcoming remarks made by Mr. N. Ganbyamba, Governor of Khentii Province. Mr. Tuguldur Baajiikhuu, on behalf of the GTI Secretariat, delivered an opening speech and chaired the 7th LCC Meeting. During the meeting, participants shared their perspectives on local cooperation, reviewed the progress of LCC made since the 6th LCC Meeting, discussed and approved the project proposal of “Establishment of the Marine Cooperation Sub-Committee of NEA LCC” from Jilin Province, and welcomed Kemerovo Region of Russian Federation as observer of LCC. Delegates from Fuxin City of Liaoning Province and representatives from private sector and international organizations were also invited to present their proposals and projects. At the end of the meeting, Busan Metropolitan City confirmed to host the 8th GTI LCC Meeting and circulate detailed meeting information in due course.

During the 5th LSC Meeting, participants reviewed the progress of LSC activities made since the 4th LSC Meeting and the “Information Sharing Sheet - Logistic Barriers and Cargo Data 2019”. Report of the Second Trial of “Pilot Transport Testing Project (Changchun - Hunchun - Zarubino - Vladivostok - Donghae - Sakaiminato)” was presented by Tottori Prefecture, and the new Pilot Transport Testing Project in 2019 was approved unanimously. The Logistics Sub-Committee Work Plan for 2019-2020 was discussed and adopted by member provinces.

The 6th Local Development Forum focused on the theme: Development of Cross-border Multi-destination Tourism Products: Regional Historical Tourism in NEA. Ms. Bayasgalan Saranjav, Director General of Department of Tourism Policy Coordination, Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, made keynote speech by introducing the current situation of the tourism industry of Mongolia at the beginning of the forum. Ms. Tuvshinjargal Perenlei, Senior Consultant of the ADB-funded Historical Tourism Park Project: “The Man of Millennium – Great Chinggis Khaan”, presented the project and perspectives of regional collaboration on investment in projects for development of historical tourism in Eastern Mongolia. Representatives from Yingkou City, Dornod Province, Inner Mongolia, Busan Metropolitan City also presented their own tourism products. Mr. Florian, Project Director of German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), also made remarks and suggestions on the development of cross-border multi-destination tourism products in Northeast Asia.

After the meeting, delegations visited Mongolian traditional festival – Naadam, as an example of cultural tourism products available for international tourists.