China plans tourism zone with Russia, DPRK

CHANGCHUN - China is planning an international tourism zone in its northeastern border area with Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The Tumen River Delta international tourism area will include part of China's Hunchun City, as well as a 10 sq km plot each from Russia and DPRK, said the government of Northeast China's Jilin province. The three sides will jointly build tourism facilities.

At the ongoing annual session of the provincial legislature, Jiang Chaoliang, governor of Jilin, said the province would draw up a blueprint for the tourism area this year and explore a management model that would involve the three countries.

The initiative was put forward by the Hunchun City government in 2013 and has drawn interest from authorities of the border areas of Russia and DPRK.

Visitors shall enter the tourism zone without visa and shopping shall be duty-free, according to officials.

In the long run, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Mongolia will join the tourism area via highways, railways and air routes, said Zhao Xiaojun, director of Jilin Provincial Tourism Administration.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) launched the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI) in 1995, which provides a multilateral forum for its member countries to tap potential economic opportunities.