Active Mixed AidData Chinese Aid

Chinese Government funds Rason Special Economic Zone Construction Project

Funder	Unspecified Chinese Government Institution
Recipient Organization	Government of North Korea
Country	Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Start Date	Nov 19, 2010
End Date	Nov 11, 2026
Duration	5,836 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`65016`

Grant Description

On November 19, 2010 a joint agreement was signed for the development of both the Rason Special Economic Zone and the Hwanggumpyong and Wihwa Island Special Economic Zone (ID #66105). The nature and monetary value of the Chinese Government’s financial support for this project is unknown. The 746 km2 Rason Special Economic Zone is on the western side of the Tumen River in North Korea.

It is between 42 08'-42 38'N and 130 07'-130 42'E. It is located in the easternmost end of the country, bordering Russia and China. According to North Korean Economy Watch, the area is surrounded by a 56-kilometer (35 mi) long electrified fence. On October 26, 2012, a formal groundbreaking ceremony took place.

The Rason Special Economic Zone was opened by 2014.

📋 Staff Comments

This project is also known as the Sino-DPRK Economic Trade Zone Construction project. The Korean project title is 라진선봉 경제특구. The Chinese project title is 羅津先鋒自由經濟貿易地帶 or 羅津先鋒經濟特區.

📚 Sources & References

Our Blog More Chinese inroads into Rason?
Country Profile （朝鲜国家概况）
温家宝会见中朝两个经济区开发合作联合指导委员会朝方代表团, 《中朝罗先经济贸易区总体规划》获得批准实施
Rason Special Economic Zone
Sino-DPRK trade zone 'going well'
China
DPRK reach consensus on developing two economic zones in DPRK
羅津先鋒經濟特區
Things Are Brewing In North Korea's Rason Zone
中华人民共和国政府与朝鲜民主主义人民共和国政府关于共同开发和共同管理罗先经济贸易区和黄金坪、威化岛经济区的协定
Rason Special Economic Zone: North Korea as It Could Be Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.

All Grantees

Government of North Korea

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