Welcoming Remarks at the 15th GTI CC Meeting

“大图们江倡议”（ GTI）咨询委员会第十五届会议欢迎致辞

Mr. Alain Noudehou, UN Resident Coordinator& UNDP Resident Representative in China

诺德厚，联合国系统驻华协调员兼联合国开发计划署驻华代表

Yanji, 17 September 2014

延吉，2014年9月17日

Excellency Wang Shouwen, Assistant Minister of Commerce, P.R. China, Chair of the GTI Consultative Commission,

Excellency Surenjav Purev, Vice Minister of Finance, Mongolia,

Excellency Pavel Korolev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, the Russian Federation,

Dear Mr. Jin Seungho, Director General of Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Republic of Korea,

The Vice Governor of Jilin Government, Mr. Chen Weigen,

Dear partners from local governments, members of the NEA EXIM Banks Association and international organizations,

中国商务部助理部长、GTI咨询委员会主席王受文先生，

蒙古国财政部副部长Surenjav Purev先生，

俄罗斯经济发展部副部长Pavel Korolev先生，

韩国策略与财政部总干事Jin Seungho先生，

吉林省人民政府副省长陈伟根先生，

尊敬的来自地方政府、GTI NEA EXAM银行协会成员与国际组织的合作伙伴，

Allow me start by thanking the GTI Secretariat and the Chinese Government, both at central and local levels, for their great efforts organizing the 15th GTI Consultative Commission meeting. We also thank the Yanji City and Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture for their hospitality in hosting our gathering today.

I also want to take the opportunity to express our appreciation to the member countries, China, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, and Russia for having associated UNDP with this important initiative since its inception 22 years ago.

首先让我感谢大图们江倡议秘书处及中国中央政府与地方政府的大力支持，让第15届大图们倡议部长级磋商会议成功举办。我们也感谢延吉市和延边朝鲜族自治州的热情招待．我也想借这机会向成员国，中国，蒙古，韩国与俄罗斯过去22年一直大力支持联合国开发计划署表示感谢。

We are honored and very pleased by long established partnership and will remain committed to continue the facilitation efforts and support we have provided throughout. Especially in this critical and important transition period in the life of GTI.

联合国开发计划署很荣幸过去与成员国建立了密切的伙伴合作关系，适逢在这关键的GTI转型时期，我们将一如以往致力为成员国提供最大的支持。

It is indeed a great privilege for me to have this opportunity to say a few words at the beginning of this very important meeting.

我很荣幸能够在本届倡议部长级磋商会议致欢迎辞。

Since I have arrived in China this April, I have followed the progress of the GTI. The only existing inter-governmental mechanism to promote regional integration in the Northeast Asia.I learned that the National Coordinators’ (NC) Meeting in July led to fruitful results, and to some important breakthroughs for the future of the GTI. I am glad to know that member governments have made big progress with regards to the transition of the GTI to an intergovernmental entity. To me, this is yet another clear indication of the commitment of the member countries to build the GTI into a more visible and stronger regional cooperation entity. I am sure you’ll agree with me that the GTI is indeed at the critical development stage. A lot has been done, but more need to be accomplished in the coming months to turn your strategic vision into reality. My hope for this meeting today is for you to be able to steer your discussions and interactions towards a common fruitful direction for the bright future of the GTI.

自四月来到中国，我一直密切关注GTI的各项进展，它是成员国政府之间唯一推动东北亚地区合作的机制。我留意到七月举办的国家协调会议的成果为GTI未来发展带来重要突破，我也高兴得知成员国在GTI转型为一个独立实体的工作方面， 取得长足的进展。对我而言，这些进展体现了成员国的承担，共同建立一个更受关注和更有效的GTI地区合作实体。我相信你们会同意GTI正处于关键的发展期。除了过去的大量工作，成员国将在接下来的数月继续落实相关策略，我希望今天的会议能够把今天的讨论成果总结为GTI的共同发展方向。

Looking back, and to our great encouragement, the GTI initiative has continued to yield tangible results. The following are just a few outstanding examples since the 14th CC Meeting:

回首过去，GTI成就骄人，我现向大家列举部分自去年咨询委员会第十四届会议以来的成果：

– Great progress has been made with the development of a concept note to pave the way towards a new intergovernmental organization.

·在建立一个政府间合作概念大纲方面，GTI取得良好进展。

– The discussions regarding the structure and functions of the NEA EXIM Banks Association have finally led to a concrete proposal on how to operationalize the NEA EXIM Banks Association. We are grateful for the commitment and dedication from all member governments and banks. It would indeed be important to channel much-needed financial resources into critical areas such as infrastructure and transport in support of the vast potential of the region.

·GTI NEA EXIM银行协会就如何推动区域性的融资平台的结构与功能，已经得出具体的计划方案。我们非常感激成员国与个银行对该项目的承担与投入。能够建立有效的融资渠道，对于发展区域的基建与运输潜能至关重要。

– The Local Cooperation Committee (LCC) is another example where we saw the participation of new players in GTI mechanism.

·地区合作委员会是另一个例子，体现GTI新合作伙伴的积极参与。

– New project proposals from existing and emerging sectors have also been extensively reviewed and adopted, and we expect them to be finally turned into concrete initiatives, with sustainable and enduring impacts.

·GTI各项发展领域的新方案被广泛采纳，我们期望这些建议能够最终转化为具体的倡议项目，带来持续和有效的改变。

We are indeed very pleased to see that the GTI is gradually growning into a fully-fledged entity, with sectoral boards for each of its five priority sectors, and institutions for the emerging areas of cooperation. While expanding and growing, the GTI could also benefit further for enhancing the inter-connectivity of its sub-entities. For example, studies generated from the transport or tourism sector could be directly fed into the shortlist of projects eligible for funding from the NEA EXIM Banks Association; or a study on trade facilitation could also support development in the tourism and transport sectors. These kind of cross sectoral engagements could further the efficiency and effectiveness of the GTI.

我们乐见GTI慢慢发展为一个成熟的实体，当中包括五大优先领域的发展项目，以及成立应对新兴合作范畴的机构。GTI不断扩大和发展的同时，更将各个大小相关团体有效连接起来。比如运输或旅游项目的研究能够直接纳入为GTI NEA EXIM银行协会资助项目的候选名单；或促进贸易的研究又能应用于旅游和运输的项目。这些跨界别的参与能够促进GTI的有效发展。

It is clear that we are witnessing the gradual evolvement of the GTI. UNDP is committed to evolve with the GTI. In particular, we look forward to continuing our effective partnership and collaboration with the GTI Secretariat, member governments as well as other partners in the context of the GTI transformation into a fully-fledged independent entity. Ultimately, through our collective work in support of the GTI, we are confident that we can help to bring tangible and sustainable benefits to your member countries.

我们不但一起见证GTI的演变，联合国开发计划署更致力与GTI一起演变。我们特别期待继续与GTI秘书处、成员国和其他合作伙伴的紧密合作，让GTI建立为一个完整的独立实体。最后，通过我们对GTI的支持，我们有信心为成员国带来更持续、更实在的利益。

I therefore look forward to our deliberations and I wish this meeting a great success.

我期待接下来的与各位的商议交流，并祝愿这会议取得成功。