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Scholars explore Northeast Asian marine economy

Author  :  ZHAO XUZHOU     Source  :    Chinese Social Sciences Today     2020-08-21

CHANGCHUN—Scholars discussed the marine economy in Northeast Asia and the Polar Silk Road and Arctic cooperation at a recent seminar in Changchun, Jilin Province.

Li Tie, vice president of the Pacific Society of China, introduced how the Tumen River is the only strategic channel in China directly linked to the Sea of Japan. Therefore, opening marine navigation for the Tumen River is highly meaningful for the revitalization of northeast China. The Tumen River flows through Jilin Province. The Tumen area is close to the Bohai Gulf near Dalian, Tianjin Bay (a part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region), the North Yellow Sea area consisting of the north of the Shandong Peninsula, and the South Yellow Sea area led by Qingdao and Lianyungang. Together these areas work in tandem to drive the building of the Polar Silk Road.

The economic circle surrounding the Sea of Japan is a maritime stage for Jilin Province to expand its opening to Russia, North Korea and South Korea. It is also an external maritime support for Jilin Province to promote the revitalization of northeast China through sea-land transport and trade. The Tumen River mechanism plays a pivotal role in this process.

“We should not only work out the Arctic sea routes, but also form a policy-making system based on our research,” said Tan Hongmei, director of the Institute of Korea Studies at the Jilin Academy of Social Sciences.

At present, with the Tumen River mechanism as the forerunner, the construction of marine logistics and an economic network in Northeast Asia has achieved initial results, Tan said. With the continuous implementation of the Belt and Road initiative in Northeast Asia and the acceleration of the Northeast’s revitalization, the prospects for the development of maritime logistics and economic cooperation in Northeast Asia are broad.

Li Dahai, a research fellow with the Institute of Marine Development of the Ocean University of China (OUC), said that Jilin should leverage technological innovation to help develop the Polar Silk Road and maritime economy.

“It makes sense for Russia to work with China in tapping the energy potential in the Arctic as a way to boost its own economy,” said Guo Peiqing, a professor at OUC. He analyzed that the current global landscape has made it difficult for Russia to explore the Arctic alone. It is a strategic move for the two countries to join hands.

Gao Tianming, director of the Russian and Ukrainian Research Institute at Harbin Engineering University, suggested that when building the Arctic Blue Economic Passage, China and Russia should recognize their converging interests in Arctic politics, so that the two parties can integrate their interests, identify potential risks and prepare corresponding mechanisms.

Gao added that the project will enhance multinational cooperation inside and outside the Arctic area. By building a cooperation mechanism that fuels the sustainable development of the areas along the navigation route as well as their hinterland, the project also helps build an economic, transportation and energy network for China. We need to make plans to improve the hardware and technical equipment available for the exploration of the polar regions.

Hou Yi, deputy director of the Center for Maritime History of China at the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, suggested exploring a multilateral cooperative mechanism for the maritime economy, land-sea industrial system, value system, logistics chain and technology chain. Meanwhile, it is important to optimize the allocation of resources and improve both infrastructure and logistics services for ports and shipping. It is necessary to seek sea-land integrated development and build a mechanism for an innovative industrial cluster for the ocean industry.

Editor: Yu Hui

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