By H.E. Maxim Medvedkov
Vice Minister of Economic Development and Trade
Russian Federation
By holding the intergovernmental meeting of the UNDP-supported Tu en River Area Development Programme in Russia in June, we will have gone full circle since the five member countries signed the multilateral agreement on regional cooperation in 1995. since then, high level consultations have been chaired by China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Mongolia and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in turn, and we -the member countries- have succeeded in finding effective ways of enhancing international cooperation in Northeast Asia.
It is not by coincidence that Vladivostok, the capital of primorsky Territory, has been chosen as the venue for this year's meetings. Thanks to Primorsky's advantageous geographical position at the junction of the Eurasian continent and the Asia-Pacific region, its well-developed transport infrastructure linking the Russian Far East and Asia-Pacific, and its abundant natural resource,s the Territory is well-placed to play a leading role in the Tumen Programme.
The contribution of Primorsky Territory to the implementation of the Tumen Programme in recent years includes opening of passenger and cargo traffic with China at the Kraskino/Hunchun border crossing; a multimode transport service between Sokcho (ROK), Zarubino(Russia), and Hunchun (China); and a container shipping service between Akita (Japan), Possian Academy of Sciences has played a leading role in the trans-boundary diagnostic analysis conducted in the Tumen Region recently, which lays the foundation for a Strategic Action Programme for the environment.
Today the Primorsky Territory Administration is formulating a new concept of economic development, aiming to accelerate integration of the Territory with the As9a-pacific market. Energy sector development is an important component of this plan, particularly implementation of oil and gas projects in Primorsky that could play a significant role in establishment of long-term energy security in the Northeast Asia region. The existing Tumen Programme framework can be very useful in implementation of certain projects related to energy development in the region.
Improved economic cooperation and integration is fundamental to the prosperity and success of the member countries, and the Tumen Programme has played an important role in this process.
Following the June intergovernmental meetings, on the initiative of President Vladimir Putin another major event will take place in Vladivostok this year, namely the Asia-Pacific Investment Forum in September. The choice of Primorsky Territory as host for this international event indicates that the Russian federal government considers Primorsky an important center of economic growth in the Russian Far East. The Russian government warmly welcomes the Tumen Programme member countries and international organizations to participate actively in this forum, which provides a great opportunity for us all to meet again in Vladivostok.