Greater Tumen Region The geographical coverage of the Greater Tumen Region involves now the three Northeast provinces and Inner Mongolia of China, Eastern provinces of Mongolia, Eastern port cities of ROK and Primorsky Territory of Russia. From being relatively unknown ten years ago, the Greater Tumen Region is now widely recognised as a frontier for economic cooperation in Northeast Asia. With the help of foreign investment, the GTI member countries have created an economic network that links resource-rich areas of North-East Asia with the global economy. The Greater Tumen Region at a Glance Area Included Region Population Area (km2) Major Cities in the Greater Tumen Region Main Industries China Heilongjiang Province 36,890,000 454,600 Haerbin and Heihe Energy, equipment, food processing, forestry, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals Inner Mongolia 24,000,000 1,180,000 Huhhot Agriculture, chemicals, energy, iron and steel, textiles, pharmaceuticals Jilin Province 27,340,000 187,400 Changchun, Yanji and Hunchun Automobiles, energy, metallurgy, petrochemicals, textiles, tourism Liaoning Province 42,380,000 145,900 Shenyang, Dalian and Dandong Electronics, machinery, metallurgy, petrochemicals Mongolia Eastern Mongolia 223,000 287,600 Choibalsan Agriculture and agro-processing, mining, tourism Republic of Korea Eastern Ports 5,300,155 3,055 Busan, Sokcho, Ulsan and Pohang Automobiles, multimedia and IT, port logistics, equipment and spare parts, oil refinery, shipbuilding, steel production, tourism and conventions Russian Federation Primorsky Territory 2,200,000 165,900 Vladivostok Aquaculture, engineering, food processing, forest products, mining, services, tourism Why the Focus on the Greater Tumen Region? The Greater Tumen Region has great potential as a major entrepot for international trade because of the strategic location of the Tumen transport corridor, the strong complementarities of the Greater Tumen Region, vast natural and human resources, and the area's accessibility to the resources and markets of Northeast Asia. Northeast China and Mongolia are landlocked and therefore have a strong interest in access to ports in DPRK and the Russian Far East. Overseas shippers also have a stake in the Tumen transport corridor, for it offers a much shorter route to affluent and new markets, and facilitates transit trade to a number of destinations. The local governments in the Greater Tumen Region have been steadfast supporters of GTI since its inception. It appears that central governments in Northeast Asia are now re-emphasising the value of the Greater Tumen Region, particularly its strategic transport corridor. Northeast Asian governments are rapidly improving the Greater Tumen Region’s infrastructure network and transport services. They are also working to create legal and institutional mechanisms conducive to cross-border trade and transport. GTI is actively facilitating the creation of an enabling environment through "soft" infrastructure and human capacity building. Why is Regional Cooperation so Important? Regional cooperation is a vital part of the development process and a building block for effective participation in world trade and capital markets. For the Greater Tumen Region, which partly consists of small and remote areas of large countries, economic cooperation is an effective way to avoid marginalization. Cross-border cooperation also helps resolve environmental issues and facilitates the adoption of international environmental standards. Most importantly, enhanced economic cooperation in Northeast Asia helps improve political relations and stability, in turn vital elements for investment and economic growth. It is worth recalling how remote and closed the Greater Tumen Region was just a dozen years ago, to appreciate the full significance of its role as a frontier for economic cooperation in Northeast Asia. Much has been achieved during the GTI's existence, particularly in terms of opening borders and increasing interaction in a region that was, until recently, tense and largely closed. A new trade and transport corridor has been created, which will - in time - evolve into an economic corridor with a significant impact on poverty reduction and improved living standards in the region. The Future of the Greater Tumen Initiative The prevailing political and economic climate in the region has altered dramatically since the establishment of GTI (then called the Tumen River Area Development Programme) in 1991. The increased participation of Mongolia and the Russian Far East, combined with the rapid expansion of the Chinese economy, will help the Northeast Asian economy grow. Dynamic cooperation has found increasing expression in Northeast Asia, and relations in the region continue to improve, helped by stronger economic links. Despite major improvements in the geopolitical circumstances of the region, however, much remains to be done. GTI is the only initiative that brings the member countries together on a sub-regional basis, and its existing institutional structure and multilateral agreements should be utilized to maximum effect to help Northeast Asia achieve peace and prosperity.   Russian Federation Primorsky Territory Vladivostok Port Primorsky Territory is located in the southern part of the Russian Far East, at the very edge of the Eurasian continent. With a population of just over 2 million, this hilly region boasts vast forests, inland lakes and rivers, offshore islands and over 1,300 km of largely unspolt coastline; it is also home to the Cedar Pad Reserve, a UNESCO Biosphereic Reservation.   Primorsky Territory has one of the largest economies in the Russian Far East, accounting for around 20 % of the total GDP of the Russian Far East. More than half of that is generated within southern Primorsky Territory, near the Tumen River delta. Rich in natural resources (silver, tin, lead, tungsten, gold), Primorsky Territory relies heavily on their processing and trading. Coal and non-ferrous metals mining, ship repair, ship building and food processing are the largest industrial employers. Many former state owned enterprises from the Soviet era have been restructured or liquidated, and private sector firms now represent approximately 90% of total enterprises. The service sector, particularly with regards to tourism, has increased dramatically during the last decade. The transport industry accounts for a significant portion of Primorsky's GDP, and Primorsky ports handle most Russian Far East freight. Of the ten major Russian shipping companies, five are based in the Far East. The transport sector is overwhelmingly export-oriented. Nakhodka and Vostochny are the termini of the Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR); the TSR is one of the shortest routes between East Asia and Europe and has been a major route for Japanese transit cargo. Primorsky’s capital city, Vladivostok, is the political, industrial, transport and cultural center of the region. In 2012 the city is set to host the 24th Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.   Mongolia Eastern Mongolia The Mongolian Steppe Eastern Mongolia comprises the aimags, or provinces, of Hentii, Dornod and Sukhbaatar. The provincial capitals are Undurhaan, Choibalsan and Baruun-Urt, respectively. Combined, the three aimags cover a surface area of 287,600 km2. Eastern Mongolia has a population of 222,500, approximately half urban and half nomadic herdsmen. Land in eastern Mongolia is predominantly used for raising livestock and for agriculture. Eastern Mongolia contains one of the largest - and last - undisturbed steppe ecosystems in the world, and is the core habitat of the Mongolian gazelle. Tourism is promising, thanks to the area's unspoilt natural beauty, cultural traditions and festivals. After 1990, the Mongolian economy is facing radical changes. Privatization is proceeding. Livestock is now privately owned, enabling numbers to increase above pre 1990 numbers. Agriculture and forestry contributed over 33% of GDP. Cereals and wheat are the most important crops. Transport and communications accounted for about 10% of GDP, mining and quarrying for 9%, and manufacturing for 6%. Over 70% of total exports of goods and services went to Northeast Asia mainly to China. Large-scale mining (copper, fluorspar and molybdenum) accounted for 40% of exports. Cashmere accounted for 16% of exports; Mongolia produces over a quarter of the world's cashmere. Strengthening Mongolia's capacity to process natural resources for export markets is a priority for the government. Republic of Korea Eastern Ports of Republic of Korea Busan Bustling Busan Port Busan is the largest port city in the Republic of Korea. With a population of about 3.65 million, Busan is also South Korea's second largest metropolis, after Seoul. Transportation and shipping are among the most high profile aspects of the local economy. Since 1978, Busan has opened three container ports. Busan is renowned as one of the world's largest ports and can handle up to 6.44 million TEU shipping containers per year. The Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority, one of two such administrations, was created to continue the tradition of Busan's status as an international trading centre. The port attracts ships from all over the globe and aspires to become a regional financial centre. Sokcho Sokcho is the biggest port in Gangwon Province. It is located in the far northeast of the country along the coast of the Sea of Japan. The city attracts a lot of national and international tourists because if its position as the gateway to the splendid mountain range of Seorak-san. Other tourism magnets are the clean beaches, lakes and hot spas. The international entrance to Sokch is the Yangyang International Airport. Furthermore, Sokcho is the starting point of the Dongchun Ferry, the world’s first sea-land connection Car-Ferry route between Sokcho and Hunchun (China) via Zarubino (Russia) and is transporting passengers and container freights. Since 2003, it has extended its service to the Russian port of Vladivostok.       People’s Republic of China Liaoning Province     Dalian City Liaoning China has a population of more than 42 million, and its capital and largest city is Shenyang.  Liaoning province is an important base of industry and trade and it has larger deposits of iron, diamond, boron, and magnesite than any other Chinese province. Other important industries include petroleum, natural gas, and chemicals. The city of Dalian, on the southern tip of the Liaodong peninsula, has become a main gateway for trade with northeast China. Authorities of Dalian in Liaoning Province have set ambitious goals for the city's future development, seeking to take the lead in achieving a full revitalization of traditional industrial bases; the city als hopes t become a a leading player in global software and service outsourcing, according to the authorities. By 2010, Dalian port's annual cargo handling capacity is expected to rise to 250 million tons, while its container handling capacity is projected to reach 8 million TEUs (twenty equivalent units), positioning Dalian among the top five Chinese ports. Dalian plays a leading role in revitalization of the traditional industrial bases, according to a statement by the city government. HeilongjiangProvince   Daqing Oil Administration Building Heilongjiang is China’s northern most province bordering Russia in the north and an important trading point between the two countries. Heilongjiang province covers a portion of what is historically referred to as Manchuria and is home to more than 38 million people. The capital, Harbin, is situated on the Songhuajiang River only 142 km from the Russian border to the east. Heilongjiang’s economic capability is tethered to its climate. It is a significant source of China’s pine and larch and agricultural crops include soybeans, maize, and wheat. Green food is fast becoming a key industry in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province in the last decade. Heilongjiang is not only one of the granaries of the country, but also among its first provinces to adopt environmentally friendly plantation methods. The province has the highest plantation acreage, output and cash crop production in the country. Perhaps most important to the province’s economy is the petroleum of the Daqing oilfields. Heilongjiang produces almost half of China’s oil. Coal and graphite also play an important role in the region’s economy, and high-powered sub-arctic winds provide it with ample ability to efficiently harness wind-derived energy. Jilin Province First Automobile Works Jilin province has a population of over 27 million and its capital is Changchun. An important region for China’s economy, Jilin has one of the nation’s largest grain outputs. It is an important source in China for timber, producing much of the county’s top grade pine and is known as a producer of three treasured products in China, namely, ginseng, mink, and pilose antler. In addition, the First Automobile Works, one of the country’s most important auto manufacturers, is based in Changchun. Following the central government’s decision to revitalize traditional industrial bases in Northeast China in 2003, the province has seen rapid economic development, with substantial investment growth. In November 2009, the Chinese government introduced the Cooperation and Development Planning Outline of China’s Tumen River Area: Setting Changchun-Jilin-Tumen as the Pilot Development and Opening Zone as a national strategy.  The region earmarked for construction and expansion under this pilot zone covers more than 73,000 square km, including the the cities of Changchun and Jilin as well as the Tumen River area.   Inner Mongolia The vastness of Inner Mongolian Grasslands The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, located on China's northernmost strip, shares 4,221-km border with Russia and the People's Republic of Mongolia. Inner Mongolia has a population of 23.84 million, is home to 49 ethnic groups, and its capital is Hohhot.   With more than 120 types of minerals, Inner Mongolia is endowed with rich natural resources. Inner Mongolia’s proven reserves of rare earth oxide account for 90 percent of the country’s total and it has five coalfields with reserves of over 10 billion tons each. The region also has rich rare-earth resources, and its natural alkali reserve is the largest in the country and it can produce mineral products such as asbestos and mica, among others. Inner Mongolia's industry developed quite fast, and the province became one of the country's main iron and coal production bases. Inner Mongolia has 86 million hectares of pasture, making up 21 percent of the nation’s total. Its grasslands account for one fourth of China's total grassland area, and its forest area is the second largest in China. Inner Mongolia is one of China's livestock husbandry bases, and is the biggest China's five main pastoral areas. Inner Mongolia is also noted for its pesticide free farm produce.