#1Japan-Russia Interregional Cooperation in the Arctic and North - Theory and Practice March 3, 2021 (Online) Practice of Japan-Russia Interregional Cooperation: A Report from Niigata Hirofumi Arai Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia (Niigata, Japan) ERINA Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia 1#2Contents ● . • Regional Cooperation between Niigata and Russian Far East Topic 1: Business and Regional Cooperation Topic 2: Central Government and Regional Cooperation After "COVID-19" Regional Cooperation ERINA Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia 2#3Regional Cooperation between Niigata and RFE . Niigata city has a long history of sister city relation with Khabarovsk. The two cities had the only local flight between Japan and USSR. They have played a key role in the Mayors Meeting since 1970. Provincial Level Exchanges Meeting of Mayors of West Coast of Japan and Siberia and Far East of Russia - Since 1970 - 11 cities from JPN, 20 cities from RUS from Niigata Khabarovsk 1990 Niigata Primorye 1990 Niigata Irkutsk 1994 Sister City Relations from Niigata Khabarovsk 1965 - Niigata and Khabarovsk are co-chairs Niigata Vladivostok 1991 Niigata Birobidzhan 1992 第26回 日口沿岸市長会議 日口沿岸ビジネスフォーラム Встреча коров города Собири и Датчего в по Kamo Komsomol'sk-na-Amure 1991 日口地域間交流の促進と協力関係の強化を目指して Source: Niigata prefecture - General meeting in every 2 years Source: Association of Mayors of West Coast of Japan ERINA Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia 3#4Topic 1: Business and Regional Cooperation • 60 Russia's "ban" of the used car import shrank the passenger flow. The flight loss diminished various opportunities of cooperation. The used car business was not so negative as perceived (?). Used Car Export from Japan and Airline Passenger between Niigata and RFE 50 40 40 30 20 10 2005 2006 2007 600 500 Thous. Units (Right) Thous. passengers (Left) -400 1 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Source: Customs statistics of Japan and Niigata Prefecture ERINA Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia -300 200 -100 4#5Topic 2: Central Govt. and Regional Cooperation . Tottori prefecture got access to FCS of Russia, through an international organization (Greater Tumen Initiative: GTI), while promoting a new transport route between Japan and China through Russia's territory. TRANSPORT ROUTE Depend Choibalsan S Mongalia Wasthigt Huelin Cel Samshi Chine Mahtot Xin Gol W WOOJIN Har gang DPRK Duidar Tayan Donghae Fywcing Hurch Sakaiminato Khabernak Sovenkays Gaydo MARDIO Mudanjiang Suifenhe Vladivostok Source: Tottori prefecture ERINA Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia Source: GTI (2013) 5#6After "COVID-19" Regional Cooperation • Online communications have become a standard in the "with Corona society." There are many pros (time and cost saving etc.) and cons (lack of informal communications etc.). Z Photo: https://junichi-m.com/camera/nagaoka-hanabi/ The virtual experience is the spice that strengthen our longing for the real experience! ERINA Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia 6