Hunchun, 19 December 2009 – A Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI) Transport Workshop successfully concluded on 18 December 2009 in Hunchun, China, further strengthening regional cooperation on transport development in NE Asia and the Greater Tumen Region in particular.

Organised by the GTI Tumen Secretariat and hosted by the Hunchun Municipal Government, Jilin Province of China, the workshop brought together about 60 officials, experts and business executives from GTI countries (China, ROK, Mongolia, Russia) and Japan, who are major stakeholders for transport development in the region.

The discussions mainly focused on the promotion of the Northeast Asia Ferry Route project (also known as “Sokcho – Niigata – Zarubino – Hunchun sea-land line”) as well as the infrastructural development of the Tumen River Transportation Corridor.

Ms. Nataliya Yacheistova, the Director of the GTI Tumen Secretariat, in her speech called on more joint efforts to promote transport development in NE Asia. “To ensure the smooth operation of the Ferry Route and the realisation of the Corridor, NE Asian countries need to enhance multilateral cooperation and constructive dialogues through the GTI platform,” said Ms. Yacheistova.

During the workshop, the participants reviewed the current status of the Northeast Asia Ferry Route, inaugurated in July 2009, connecting Sokcho (ROK), Niigata (Japan), Zarubino (Russia) and Hunchun (China). The participants addressed the difficulties impeding the operation of this multinational sea-land line and urged the involved parties to simplify cross-border procedures and formalities for visa application, customs clearance and cargo transit among NE Asian countries.

Participants shared the view that the improvement of the transport infrastructure in the region is vital for the activation and development of the Tumen River Transportation Corridor. In particular, a few concrete activities were addressed for further implementation, including the construction of a new railway between Mongolia and China, the revitalisation of Zarubino port, the improvement of the facilities of Kraskino checkpoint as well as the resumption of Hunchun – Makhalino railway.

Participants emphasised the need for closer cooperation among the governments and private sector in NE Asia to solve the pending issues, and agreed that the GTI Transport Board could be an effective tool to further promote transport development in the region.

After the workshop, a technical tour to the Quanhe Checkpoint at the China-DPRK border, and the Hunchun Checkpoint at the China-Russia border was organised by the Hunchun Municipal Government on 19 December.

Related information

Presentations and Speeches    Programme of the GTI Transport...