Environmental protection, subsoil use, agriculture, transport, tourism, healthcare, sports, education and science: a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was held in Pyongyang. The Russian delegation included employees of federal ministries, research institutes, universities and representatives of companies. For two days, he and his Korean colleagues worked at industry sessions, after which a plenary session was held.
“It was in Pyongyang that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un proposed to hold a meeting during his visit to Russia in September. And the work of the Intergovernmental Commission has once again proved the closeness of the views of Russia and Korea. Practical decisions have been made in all areas that we have discussed. The trade turnover between our countries has grown since the beginning of the year, and has already amounted to over $ 28 million, but this, of course, is not yet the level of the pre-crisis period. Therefore, we are striving to return to the trade and economic cooperation that existed before the pandemic. That is why, within the framework of our intergovernmental commission, we have created a special mechanism – the subcommittee on trade cooperation. Russia confirms its commitment to comprehensively strengthen ties with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” commented the Co-chairman of the Russian part of the Intergovernmental Commission, the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of Russia. Alexander Kozlov.
The main Russian export to the DPRK is agricultural products. Russia sells flour, corn and soybean oil to Korea. At the beginning of 2024, a test delivery of meat products will take place. If everything goes well, the export of meat products will become regular.
A potential area for development is subsoil use. At the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, it was announced that Russia and Korea have agreed on joint geological exploration of gold, rare earth and iron deposits, and on offshore exploration of hydrocarbons. The Department of Subsoil Use of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia will develop a plan for geological exploration after the Korean side provides the necessary geophysical maps.
Also, one of the main topics was transport communication: rail and air. The resumption of regular air travel will allow the development of many areas, in particular, tourist trips.
“Dear At the XVI meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim Jong-un put forward policy instructions on the implementation of constructive measures to strengthen the foundations of Russian-Korean cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations in all areas. Friendly relations between our countries have reached a new level. And the current meeting is a key and significant moment,” said the co-chairman of the Korean part of the Intergovernmental Commission, Minister of Foreign Economic Affairs of the DPRK Yun Jung Ho.
During the intergovernmental commission, the Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University and the Kim Chol Ju Pedagogical Institute signed an agreement that will allow them to participate in joint programs for the exchange of teachers, students and scientific achievements. In addition, an intergovernmental agreement on mutual recognition and equivalence of documents on education and academic degrees of the two countries is being prepared. This will be especially relevant for researchers dealing with cross-border issues. For example, migratory birds. This year, ornithologists have updated the list of birds for which there is no border between Russia and the DPRK; 359 bird species have turned out. The intergovernmental commission agreed that scientists will conduct ornithological studies at large bird migration stops.
During their visit to Pyongyang, they also signed a sports action plan for 12 winter and summer sports. Basically, this is the interaction between sports federations, participation in competitions. For example, Korean athletes were invited to participate in the multi-sport tournament “Games of the Future”, the BRICS Games, the World Friendship Games and the international games “Children of Primorye”.
“In addition, we discussed education issues. Our Far Eastern Academy of Physical Culture, which is located in the city of Khabarovsk, is ready to accept Korean specialists in the program of training and advanced training of personnel. We also discussed with colleagues the opening of an international taekwondo school on the basis of the Russian University of Sports. The development of weightlifting and the training process in table tennis is of interest. We have visited several facilities in Pyongyang, the scale of sports development, investment in sports, is impressive,” said the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation. Oleg Matytsin.
The Russian delegation also included representatives of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theater. They examined the sites where it is possible to conduct a tour of the ballet troupe. The theater will perform in Pyongyang in March 2024. And in April, 11 Russian orchestras of classical, folk and pop music will take part in the April Spring Festival.
“In September, the leaders of our countries – Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, – held a meeting at the Vostochny cosmodrome. Certain agreements have been reached, to which we attach particular importance. Without a doubt, they will be implemented by us. We highly appreciate the friendly and trusting nature of Russian-Korean relations,” the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia noted. Alexander Kozlov
During the visit to Pyongyang, the Russian delegation laid flowers at the Mansudae Memorial Complex and at the monument to Soviet soldiers who liberated Korea in World War II. We visited the exhibition of light industry, visited sports and cultural facilities.
Alexander Kozlov has been heading the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Russia and the DPRK since 2018. First as Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, and from 2020 – as head of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia. The main functions of intergovernmental commissions in our country are to determine the main directions of trade and economic cooperation and its priority features, to assist interested commercial organizations in the preparation and implementation of joint projects.
