The forces of globalisation and regionalisation have built up over the past decade, leading to a paradigm shift in development options according to the challenges and opportunities brought about by gl9obalisation.
The Northeast Asian sub-region is becoming a driving force for world development, and a cooperative spirit is clearly emerging as the countries realize the potential of regional cooperation. The Tumen River Area- where the borders of China, the Democratic people's Republic of Korea and Russia meet -has undergone a remarkable transformation in terms of economic cooperation and development in recent years. This area remains key to the regional cooperation process in Northeast Asia because of its strategic location at the crossroads of trade and transport flows within the region as well as between the continents of America, Asia and Europe.
Since its inception over a decade ago, the Tumen Programme has contributed significantly to the process of regional integration by acting as a catalyst for multilateral dialogue. UNDP has always been pound of its ongoing association with this intergovernmental initiative in Northeast Asia, promoting economic cooperation among the Programme member countries. Hand in hand with the member governments and local communities, we have created a sustainable legal and institutional framework for cooperation. Thanks to the support and opening-up policies of the national and provincial governments in these countries, the Tumen Region has seen remarkable improvements in living standards and cross-border trade in a relatively short time.
With its experience of economic cooperation to date, the Tumen pprogramme can serve as a vehicle for broader Northeast Asian economic cooperation. The Tumen intergovernmental meetings scheduled for June, in Vladivostok, will undoubtedly play an important role in determining the course of regional cooperation. A discussion paper commissioned by UNDP will be tabled for the Northeast Asian governments at the meeting, addressing the potential and prospects for broader economic cooperation in the region.
We at UNDP confident that the Tumen Region will become an even stronger center for sub-regional cooperation. We congratulate the national governments and local administrations on the past achievements of the Programme development through greater collaboration. UNDP will continue to support the efforts of the governments and peoples in the Tumen Region and Northeast Asia to ensure peace and prosperity through economic cooperation.
Hafiz A. Pasha
Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director
Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
United Nations Development Programme