Published on: 2026-05-18
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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Vladivostok, May 18 /Xinhua/ — The government of Russia’s Primorsky Krai views the prospects for Russia-China cooperation in the region with optimism, hoping for its deepening and expansion. This was stated yesterday in an interview with Xinhua by Konstantin Sidorenko, Minister of International and External Economic Relations of Primorsky Krai RF.
K. Sidorenko called China the most important trade and economic partner of Primorye. According to him, Primorsky Krai has occupied the first place for many years in the ranking of cooperation between Russian regions and China. China’s share in Primorye’s foreign trade is about 70 percent.
The minister noted that today more than 40 projects involving Chinese capital are being implemented in the region in the fields of logistics, agriculture, tourism, and industry. The total Chinese investments in projects carried out within the framework of the Free Port Vladivostok and the advanced development territory /TOP/ amounted to 81.3 million US dollars, or 45% of all foreign investments.
“The Chinese direction is a key driver of the region’s foreign economic activity,” emphasized K. Sidorenko.
The region’s authorities have special hopes tied to the launch of an advanced international territory development mechanism /MTO/. The federal law on MTO came into force on January 1, 2026, and Primorye became a pilot site for implementing a new regime to attract foreign investments in the Far East.
As the minister indicated, a wide package of preferences is offered to Chinese investors: tax benefits, reduced social security contributions, legal support, a stability regime for up to 15 years, a free customs zone, and ready-made infrastructure.
“The government of Primorsky Krai and the federal center offer Chinese companies an unprecedented package of guarantees and preferences,” said K. Sidorenko.
One of the largest joint projects is to become the Russian-Chinese agro-industrial park in Busta Suodo, which is being built with the participation of Chinese capital. The project envisages the creation of a full cycle of agricultural product processing, from grain transshipment to the production of deep processing products.
“This is a transition from raw material exports to high value-added products, which is strategically important for the food security and economy of the region,” emphasized the minister.
The region is simultaneously focusing on the development of logistics and international transport corridors. In Primorsky Krai, the international transport corridors “Primorye-1” and “Primorye-2” are operating, with 17 checkpoints and six ice-free seaports functioning. By 2030, the authorities expect to nearly double the cargo turnover of the ports — up to 300 million tons.
K. Sidorenko noted that Primorye is also interested in expanding cooperation with China in shipbuilding and the development of the Northern Sea Route. Primorye shipyards are eager to collaborate with the Chinese side in the construction of civilian vessels and maritime technology.
“Taking into account the geography and logistical capabilities of the south of Primorye, the region can become a key transshipment hub for Chinese goods within the framework of Arctic routes,” said the interlocutor from Xinzhou.
In recent years, the minister has repeatedly visited the PRC as part of official and business delegations, meeting with representatives of regional authorities and Chinese businesses.
“We traditionally have good friendly ties with the northeastern provinces of China — Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Jilin, but we are focused on developing trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation with other regions of China as well. Currently, we are working on projects with enterprises from the provinces of Shandong, Guangdong, Zhejiang, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the cities of Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chongqing,” the minister said.
K. Sidorenko noted that every trip to China leaves a strong impression.
“China impresses with its scale, speed of infrastructure project implementation, and high business interaction culture. Particularly impressive is the Chinese business’s focus on technological advancement and continuous production modernization,” he noted.
According to him, after years of communication with Chinese partners, it has become obvious that predictability and reliability of cooperation are especially important for us.
“We see that Chinese partners are very pragmatic and value the stability of the conditions that we are exactly creating in the territory of advanced development,” the minister said.
Speaking about the prospects for bilateral relations, the minister emphasized that Primorye expects a new impulse for cooperation following the upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China.
“The prospects are the most positive and stable. President Putin’s visit to China will give a powerful impulse to the entire complex of bilateral relations,” he is confident.
In Primorye, it is expected that the further strengthening of the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership will allow the region to become one of the key sites for bilateral economic cooperation in the Far East.
“Our relationship has moved to a level of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction, and Primorsky Krai will be one of the main beneficiaries of this friendship and cooperation,” summarized K. Sidorenko. –0–
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