During the seminar

The annual seminar in China was held on November 3rd, 2009 at Yanbian University in Yanji, China. Co-organizers of the seminar were Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea, the Institute of Peace Affairs (IPA) and the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at Yanbian University. This year’s topic was the search for new ways of cooperation in Northeast Asia.

The participants discussed the presence and future of security cooperation in two sessions during the day. Scholars from South Korea and China explained the two points of view from their respective countries. Common thoughts of the discussion were the need for a better integration of North Korea into the Northeast Asian community and the improvement of the relationship of the two Koreas.

The group went on an excursion trip along the Tumen river which marks the border to North Korea. Two cities were visited: Hunchun is the border city to Russia and Tumen the border city to North Korea.

View across Tumen River

At the border between China and North Korea