United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Transport and Tourism Division

Development of an integrated shipping and port system
in the North-East Asia subregion

In the North-East Asia subregion, maritime transport has played a key role in promoting trade of Japan and the Republic of Korea. Shipping and ports are well developed in those countries and are also rapidly developing in China. Within the subregion the five economies share a common interest in developing and maintaining the shipping lanes. However, a common maritime transport network in the North-East Asia subregion has not been effectively formed due to missing links.

Multilateral maritime cooperation among the countries in the region is essential to the establishment of a common shipping and port system. It will also help the maritime transport network evolve into a multi-modal transport system comprising all modes of transport including Trans-Asian Railways (TAR), Asian Highways (AH) and cross-border transport in the Tumen River area. In view of the fact that ports are the focal points of multi-modal transport and logistics systems, priority should be given to the balanced development of the ports in the North-East Asia subregion.

Opportunities should be provided for reviewing shipping and port development and harmonizing national polices within a framework of multilateral cooperation. Collaboration between the public and private sector should also be promoted to mobilize private participation in the maritime infrastructure investment, as has been the case in other ports of the region.

UNESCAP prepared a study on Development of shipping and ports in North-East Asia subregion.