The 13th Northeast Asia Economic Forum in Seoul: "Multilateral Cooperation Strategies Contributing to the Formation and Development of a Northeast Asian Economic Zone"

The 13th Northeast Asia Economic Forum in Seoul:
"Multilateral Cooperation Strategies Contributing to the Formation and Development of a Northeast Asian Economic Zone"

NIRA held the Northeast Asia Economic Forum in Seoul on September 17 and 18, 2004. During the session entitled "The Grand Design for Northeast Asia and Investment Needs," co-chaired by Takafusa Shioya, President of NIRA, and Dr. Duck-Woo Nam, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, there was a report on the following topics by Dr. Yasuo Sawai, an Executive Vice President of NIRA, followed by discussion with the participants.
Research on a Grand Design
In order to achieve sustained development across the entire Northeast Asian region, interdependence within the region must be strengthened. At present, NIRA is carrying out "Research on a Grand Design based on the fundamental policies of Physical Integration and Networking of Strategic Clustered Areas and Sub-regional Cores." This is not an approach to promoting regional integration that is dominated by political thinking, but is rather a functionalist approach that seeks to achieve its goals by creating relationships based on multilateral cooperation focused on the provision of the global public goods required by the region.
Issues in Each Area of the Grand Design Energy
With a view to achieving a balance of energy demand and supply, and increased mid- to long-term energy security, we need to create an energy vision for Northeast Asia that focuses on the smooth supply of Russian oil and natural gas and is acceptable to the countries concerned. This vision must include measures to protect the global environment, such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
Transportation and Logistics
To promote greater economic and social exchange in the region, transportation and logistics systems must be given urgent attention. The concepts of the Asian Highway and land bridges need further discussion, as do a diverse range of issues such as the concept of a highspeed rail network centered in Northeast China and the Korean Peninsula and an undersea tunnel between the Republic of Korea and Japan.
Strategic Development Clusters
To encourage economic development, numerous special zones, such as those at Tumen River, Rajin, Chongjin, Dandong and Sinuiju, have been established in the border areas of China, North and South Korea and Russia. In addition to these, it is likely that, with the advancement of energy and logistics projects, a range of possible locations for strategic development clusters will emerge in those cities or hubs on which the projects focus. The selection of areas to enable efficient and effective area development will require research to identify strategic key areas believed to possess significant potential for growth and to determine possibilities for networking. Such research must be based upon a comprehensive evaluation of both the location's relevance to development projects and regional trends.
Necessity for a Common Platform for Each Country
Ultimately, the Grand Design for Northeast Asia must be a "multilateral comprehensive development vision" debated and agreed upon on the basis of a joint platform by representatives of the governments, research institutes and private enterprises of the nations of the region. To this end, the nations of Northeast Asia must attempt to achieve a consensus on a vision for the future by cooperating in the development of a common regional database, exchanging opinions to foster a shaped regional consciousness, and coordinating their respective comprehensive national development plans. Given these requirements, NIRA wishes to build a network for the exchange of information and opinion among Northeast-Asian research institutions, focusing first on China and the Republic of Korea. In other words, NIRA proposes the creation of a "Consortium of Research Institutions for the Grand Design for Northeast Asia."
Dr. Mohammad Farhandi, former Lead Energy Specialist, East Asia and the Pacific Region, World Bank, and Dr. Won-Suh Choo, Head, Center for Northeast Asian Studies, Korea Development Bank, also offered presentations at the forum.
In the other sessions, research reports concerning energy, transportation and logistics, tourism and e-trade were presented, and many new proposals were made concerning cooperative initiatives in Northeast Asia.


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