Background Information about the Tumen River Area Development Programme (TRADP)   The Tumen River Area Development Programme (TRADP) is a regional programme of UNDP commenced from 1991. Since its commencement, the TRADP has experienced three Phases: Phase I: September 1991 – 1996 After operating for more than a year on preparatory assistance, Phase I of the TRADP was formally launched in 1993 with the objective of creating a joint special economic zone to be built on land leased from China, Russia and DPRK. It was envisaged that substantive infrastructure investment would be required for this international managed cross border zone. In December 1995 formal agreements were signed establishing the TRADP Coordination Committee with membership by China, Russia and DPRK and the TRADP Consultative Commission with membership of China, DPRK, Mongolia, ROK and Russia. Phase II: 1997 – December 2000 Phase II of TRADP intended to logically build upon the achievements of Phase I while aiming to address some of the shortcomings. Phase II therefore aimed to firstly operationalize the agreements signed in Phase I through regular meetings and consultative processes of the committee and commission. Secondly, the aim of Phase II was to advance development within the region with a focus on trade, investment and environmental management. Phase III: 2001 – Current The Phase III had a dual objective. The first was to strengthen the institutional framework of the initiative to make it sustainable beyond the horizon of the project. Second, the project was to continue the past objectives of both Phase I and II in contributing to the economic development of the region through concrete actions in five sectors – trade and investment, transport and communications, environment, tourism and energy. 2005 Changchun meeting, from TRADP to GTI In 2005, at the 8th Consultative Commission Meeting held in Changchun, China, the TRADP’s geographic coverage was expanded to include more provinces in the region and the new Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI) was established as an inter-governmental framework with member countries making a commitment to take full ownership of the GTI including: the adoption of a strategic action plan by member countries, greater financial contributions to a common fund, the establishment of legal institutional frameworks to transfer management of the initiative to member countries. UNDP indicated that it would remain committed to support regional cooperation in North-East Asia but would shift the focus on the concrete projects. Please visit GTI for more information. Related Information  Agreement on the Establishment of the Tumen River Area Development Coordination ...    Agreement on the Establishment of the Consultative Commission for the Developmen...    The Institutional Framework of the Tumen Programme