CHANGCHUN (PRNewswire) — With the theme Enhancing Mutual Trust and Cooperation to create beautiful prospects for Northeast Asia, the 12^{th<§sup> China-Northeast Asia Expo, opened on August 23 in Changchun, capital of northeast China’s Jilin Province.}

It is widely believed that, Northeast Asia, one of the most dynamic regions in the world, has various favourable factors converging in this region. The cooperation and development in Northeast Asia faces new opportunities in interconnectivity of infrastructure, local government cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. All countries in the region need to make active efforts to push for regional prosperity and make unique contributions to shoring up global economy.

The China-Northeast Asia Expo is the only state-level international comprehensive exposition in the region with the joint participation of six countries, namely, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia and Russia. It is also open to the world. It has become an important channel for dialogue and exchange among governments in Northeast Asia, a key platform for regional economic and trade cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges for Northeast Asian countries, and a significant window for China’s north-eastern region to deeply integrate itself into the joint construction of the Belt and Road.

Northeast Asia has a total population of nearly 1.7 bln and accounts for about one-fifth of the world’s GDP. The economies of the countries in the region are highly complementary and have great potential for cooperation. Statistics show that in 2018, China’s trade with the five countries in Northeast Asia totalled $758.57 bln, accounting for nearly a quarter of China’s total foreign trade. China is the biggest trading partner of the five Northeast Asian countries.

Kwon Goo-hoon, chairman of the North Economic Cooperation Commission of the ROK, said the ROK is willing to play a linkage role between the mainland and the sea through cooperation with China, Russia, Mongolia and other countries. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, the ROK is willing to make use of its advanced construction technology and operational capability and combine with the extensive network of Chinese investment to create huge synergic effect.

Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the Russian State Duma’s international affairs committee, underlined cooperation and dialogue at the High-level Forum on Northeast Asia Cooperation. He invited participants of the expo from different countries to the exhibition area of Russia at the expo and tap the development opportunities of Russia’s Far East.

Wang Shouwen, China’s vice minister of commerce, said the Chinese side is willing to work with the member countries of the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI) to strengthen the dovetailing of development strategies, advance practical cooperation and bring GTI cooperation fruits to people in the region, push the transformation of GTI toward an independent international organization to create a future of greater prosperity for Northeast Asia.