This year’s Greater Tumen Inititaive (GTI) Policy Dialogue was held in a hybrid format under the theme of “Maintain the Momentum of Regional Economic Integration and Deepen Cooperation on Industrial and Supply Chains in Northeast Asia in the Post-pandemic Era”. Participants joined the event on 02 September 2022 on-site in Yanji, Jilin Province, China as well as online from the other GTI member countries and international organisations.

The Policy Dialogue was scheduled into three thematic areas. After the opening remarks by representatives from the Ministry of Commerce (MofCom) China, Jilin Government, the Mongolian embassy to China as well as the GTI Secretariat Director, the first session looked into “New Circumstances – Profound Changes in the Development of Global Industrial and Supply Chains”. Inputs came from the United Nations Comission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Korea Institute for International Economics (KIEP), Association of Clusters, Technology Parks and SEZ of Russia as well as the Monoglian Ministry of Economy and Development.

The second session explored insights under the theme of “New Opportunities – Regional Economic Integration Promotes Industrial Integration and Development”. Examples were shared by the Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation (KIND), Yantai Investment Promotion Center and the China-Republic of Korea (ROK) International Cooperation Demonstration Zone. The implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was highlighted as one driver for integrated development of regional industry and supply chains in the NEA region.

The third session closed the dialogue in emphasising the “New Momentum – Digital Economy and Green Economy Foster a new Driving Force”. Experts from the Asian Infrustructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Hunchun Marine Economy Development Demonstration Zone as well as the GIZ consultant from Weber Sites Consulting GmbH highlighted the necessity of digitalisation in industrial value chains while also the inevitable need to work on more ecological solutions.

The dialogue was orgiansed by the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI) Secretariat with the Department of Commerce of Jilin Province (JLDOFCOM) and the Yanbian Prefecture Government of China as well as supported by MofCom and GIZ SRECA. The intervention is part of SRECA’s support to GTI and the improved inclusion of Mongolia in the mechanism.