ROLES OF THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST AND JAPAN IN PROMOTING ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN THE NORTHEAST ASIA .
The relation between the Russian Far East and Japan is 'near and far'. In the Cold War period there existed an 'invisible wall' in the Sea of Japan. The Cold War ended about 10 years ago. Although a tense atmosphere remains in the Korean Peninsula, people's comings and goings and cultural exchange between Japan and Russia have remarkably increased since then. In this sense the 'invisible wall' has collapsed. Nevertheless, the business between the Russian Far East and Japan has not made a big progress. Why? In this paper I would like to argue what should be done by the Russian Far East and Japan in order to promote economic cooperation in the Northeast Asia.
I The Russian Far East.
Russia is usually regarded as a European country, but it is at the same time an Asian and Pacific country. Already in the period of Perestroika the Soviet Union declared itself as an 'Asian and Pacific country'. During the period of the former Soviet Union the Far East was placed a resource base and a munitions-producing base for a whole country. As for its industrial structure industry and mining accounted for about 60% of its national income, and the share of transportation and construction were relatively big. The most important branches in industry and mining are forestry, wood-processing, extraction of nonferrous metals and their refinement, which depend on abundant natural resources. In this way, the Far East has been characterized by its industrial structure dependent on natural resources. The self-sufficiency of foods in the Far East is only about 50%. Necessary foods and other consumer goods have been provided by the European Russia and other Republics, which are far to the west.
As a result of the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, the regional connection in the country was cut off. Most of the business partners within a country reappeared as foreigners.