Member countries of the Greater Tumen Initiative have reiterated their commitment to supporting the multilateral trading system, opposing trade protectionism, and facilitating the economic integration of Northeast Asia on Thursday.

Ministerial-level officials in the trade and economy areas from China, Mongolia, Russia and South Korea participated in the 19th Consultative Commission Meeting of Greater Tumen Initiative in Changchun, a city in northeast China. The initiative is an important regional cooperative mechanism established in 1992.

The participants reached the Changchun Declaration, which reiterates the commitment of building an open and free trade and investment business environment in Northeast Asia.

”All member countries promised that we will continue our support for the multilateral trading system, oppose trade protectionism, and facilitate the integration of the regional economy. We also promised that we will continue dedicating to forging the GTI into the most important platform for economic cooperation in Northeast Asia,” said Zhang Shaogang, head of Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

Chinese Vice Commerce Minister, Wang Shouwen, also pointed out at the meeting that China is willing to work with other member countries to promote free trade, make trade easier in the region, and strengthen the connectivity of the infrastructure in different countries. He added that China would like to strengthen cooperation with other member countries in tourism, agriculture, the private sector, and people-to-people exchanges.