Author(s)

Ruilin Liu ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Dalian University of Foreign Languages, Lushunnan Road No.6, Dalian, Liaoning, China

Corresponding Author

Ruilin Liu

ABSTRACT

This article takes the Tumen River Basin International Cooperation Zone as its empirical focus and analyzes in detail the evolution of its multilateral cooperation model, structural architecture, and implementation pathways under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It situates the case within broader debates on connectivity governance and the provision of regional public goods. The study finds that the zone has improved coordination across Northeast Asia through a layered institutional design—exemplified by the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI)—diversified strategic alignment—such as China–Russia linkages around the Arctic Sea Route and synergies with the Republic of Korea's Eurasia Initiative—and deepened cross-sectoral integration that combines "hard" infrastructure connectivity with "soft" connectivity in rules and standards. Together, these mechanisms have measurably enhanced regional co-governance efficiency. Looking ahead, the zone should prioritize an institution-based opening regime, explore "smart border" demonstration areas that leverage digital governance, and build environmentally sustainable, resilient supply chains. These steps would not only consolidate local gains but also generate a transferable paradigm for BRI-led multilateral cooperation.

KEYWORDS

"Belt and Road"Initiative, Greater Tumen Initiative, Northeast Asia, Multilateral Cooperation, Tumen River Basin, China

CITE THIS PAPER

Ruilin Liu, Research on the Multilateral Cooperation Model under the "Belt and Road" Initiative—A Case Study of Cooperation in the Tumen River Basin. Journal of Sociology and Ethnology (2025) Vol. 7: 169-176. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/jsoce.2025.070323.

REFERENCES

[1] UNDP, Tumen River Area Development Programme (TRADP) Framework Agreement, UN Document No. E/ESCAP/6791, 1991.
[2] Yuan Tsim-sha-tsui (2019) A study on implementing China's 'the belt and road' strategy to activate cooperation in sub-region of Tumen river by scenario planning. Seoul: Seoul University Press.
[3] International Crisis Group (ICG), The North Korean Nuclear Crisis: A Regional Security Challenge, Report No. ASIA/2003/01, February 2003.
[4] Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI), "Concept Document for Transition to a Permanent International Organization," November 2014, https://www.gti-greater-tumen.org.
[5] Jeon Hong-jin (2021) New Northeast Asia Economic Cooperation Platform—Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI). Seoul: Korean Immortal Books Publishing House Press
[6] Bu Suhua (2021) Construction Path of a Nordic Freight Logistics Network for Tumen River Regional Exports under the "Ice Silk Road" Context. Foreign Economic and Trade Practice, 2021(3):90-93.
[7] Lee Sung-woo (2010) Development of the Tumen River and Prospects for Multilateral Cooperation in East Asia: Focusing on the Construction of East Asian Multilateral Cooperation Mechanisms.(JPI Policy Forum) 40(01): 1-28.
[8] State Council of the People's Republic of China, "Approval on the Establishment of the China Tumen River Area (Hunchun) International Cooperation Demonstration Zone," GuoHan [2012] No. 51, April 13, 2012.
[9] Russian Federation Ministry of Economic Development, "Strategy for Socio-Economic Development of the Far East until 2025," December 2013, https://www.economy.gov.ru.
[10] General Administration of Customs of China and Russian Customs, "Green Channel Pilot Program Evaluation Report," October 2014, https://www.customs.gov.cn.
[11] Hunchun Port Authority, "Hunchun-Zarubino-Niigata Shipping Route Inauguration Report,” October 2017, https://www.port-hunchun.gov.cn.
[12] China-Russia Arctic Cooperation Joint Working Group, "Pilot Navigation Report for the Hunchun- Zarubino- Arctic Route," September 2018, https://www.arctic-council.org.
[13] Xu Chongli (2025) "Super-Cooperative International Law" under the Belt and Road Initiative. Legal Scholar, 2025(02): 15–26.
[14] China-North Korea Bilateral Cooperation Committee, "Agreement on Joint Development and Management of the Rason Economic and Trade Zone," June 2018, https://www.mofcom.gov.cn.
[15] China-Russia Railway Corporation, "Annual Freight Volume Report 2021,"March 2022, https://www. crailway. com.
[16] Gao Lei. (2023) Research on the Belt and Road Initiative's Promotion of Economic Globalization Models. World Economic Research, 2023(06): 14-25.
[17] Wang Liang (2024) Drawing Lessons from International Science and Technology Organizations to Deepen Belt and Road Technological Innovation Cooperation. Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2024(06): 1097-1105.
[18] Liu Guobing,Li Lu (2024) Joint Promotion of the "Ice Silk Road" and the Tumen River Corridor for Northern Economic Development under the Belt and Road Initiative. Northeast Asia Economic Research, 2024(5): 16-32.
[19] Li Xin (2024) Public Diplomacy Practices of the Belt and Road Think Tank Cooperation Alliance: Characteristics, Influence Pathways, and Prospects. Public Relations World, 2024(19): 109-111.
[20] Du You,Sun Chunri (2018) A Cultural Perspective on Integrating the Tumen River Region into the Belt and Road Initiative. Journal of Northern University for Nationalities, 2018(01):70-74.
[21] Sun Cunri,Liu Haibo (2020) Transnational Historical and Cultural Resources and Constraints on International Cooperation in the Tumen River Region. Journal of Yanbian University, 2020(3):29-36+140.
[22] GTI, Yanbian Declaration, 2014, http://www.tumenprogramme.org/?info-688-1.html.
[23] GTI, Moscow Declaration, 2017, http://www.tumenprogramme.org/?info-695-1.html.
[24] GTI, Ulaanbaatar Declaration, 2019, http://www.tumenprogramme.org/?info-719-1.html.
[25] GTI, Changchun Declaration, 2021, http://www.tumenprogramme.org/?info-752-1.html.
[26] GTI, Moscow Declaration, 2021, http://www.tumenprogramme.org/?info-782-1.html.
[27] GTI, Shenyang Declaration, 2024, http://www.tumenprogramme.org/?info-800-1.html.
[28] GTI, Seoul Declaration, 2025, http://www.tumenprogramme.org/?info-818-1.html.
[29] Yang Xue (2020) Subregional Cooperation in the Tumen River Area under the Belt and Road Initiative: Opportunities and Future. Northeast Asia Economic Research, 4(4):34-45.
[30] Belt and Road Portal Yidayyilu.Gov.cn, https://www.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/p/9803.html.

Sponsors, Associates, and Links

---

• Journal of Language Testing & Assessment
  
  
• Information and Knowledge Management
  
  
• Military and Armament Science
  
  
• Media and Communication Research
  
  
• Journal of Human Movement Science
  
  
• Art and Performance Letters
  
  
• Lecture Notes on History
  
  
• Lecture Notes on Language and Literature
  
  
• Philosophy Journal
  
  
• Science of Law Journal
  
  
• Journal of Political Science Research
  
  
• Advances in Broadcasting