Chekunkov said that China has become a potential partner of Russia in the implementation of the Northern Sea Route development project

The Head of the Ministry for Development of Russian Far East noted that Russia is open for cooperation with the PRC in the implementation of major projects in the Far East and Arctic regions, both in the infrastructure and industrial sectors.

Russia considers China a potential partner for the infrastructure development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as well as for international transit, as Alexey Chekunkov, the Head of the Ministry for Development of Russian Far East, confidently stated.
«Since 2012, the relations between Russia and China have reached totally new orbit of cooperation, the highest in the history of our bilateral relations. The vector of the relations set during this period will predetermine the conditions for strategic partnership between Russia and China for decades to come. <...> China is our potential partner in the international transit through the Northern Sea Route, as well as in infrastructure development, and, in particular, seaports,» Chekunkov said in the interview with the TASS agency.

The Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Russia at the invitation of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is the first country that Chinese leader visited after his re-election for the third term by the Chinese National People’s Congress (parliament) on March 10.
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The Head of the Ministry for Development of Russian Far East said that since 2012 trade turnover between Russian Far East and China increased from less than $90 billion to more than $190 billion in 2022. «The Power of Siberia» project, which determined mechanisms for cooperation in the gas sector for decades to come, was completed«. China has entered as a partner in strategic projects in the Arctic Region, such as Yamal LNG, and in the Far East, such as Amur Gas Chemical Cluster. Chinese companies are generally leading among foreign residents of preferential regimes in the Far East. 52 projects with total budget of about $11 billion are being implemented with the participation of Chinese capital in the Territories of Advanced Development (TAD) and the Free Port of Vladivostok (FPV).

About Chinese participation in international TAD and tourism projects

«Russia is open for cooperation with China in order to implement major projects in the Far East and Arctic regions, both in the infrastructure and industrial sectors. A special regime for international investors from friendly countries — international territories of advanced development — is provided. The creation of joint ventures on the ITAD territory — also with investors from China — will contribute to the creation of new added value chains with the participation of Russian and foreign industrial companies,» said Chekunkov.
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About the development of transport infrastructure and Agro-Industrial Complex

According to the head of the Ministry for Development of Russian Far East as well as bilateral relations, including in terms of export-import transactions, are facilitated by transport infrastructure development. It is referred to the construction of two cross-border bridges across the Amur River (Heilongjiang). The trade turnover through the automobile bridge Blagoveshchensk — Heihe, which was opened last year, will amount to up to 1 million tons of cargo per year. The cargo turnover through the new railway bridge Nizhneleninskoye — Tongjiang at the first stage will amount up to 5.2 million tons per year with the prospect of increasing up to 20 million tons, said Chekunkov.
The Minister has also mentioned a new built grain terminal in Transbaikalia — the largest grain logistics facility in Russia and the world’s first specialized full-cycle inland grain processing terminal, which allows to lift infrastructure restrictions in grain transshipment at the Far East and reduces expenses for logistics. The terminal is one of the elements of the Russia — China inland grain corridor. The annual transshipment volume will increase up to 8 million tons of grain, legumes and oilseeds.
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Source:ТАСС
Image source: Kremlin.ru