Published on: 2026-05-04
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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Irkutsk /Russia/, May 4 /Sinyua/ — The cooperation between the Irkutsk region of Russia and China has a strong institutional basis and is developing consistently. Governor of the Irkutsk region Igor Kobzev stated this today during an interview with correspondent Sinyua.
“Our relations with China are developing gradually and consistently. Our interaction has a strong institutional foundation,” he emphasized.
As I. Kobzev reminded, in 2024 it will be 30 years since the establishment of sister relations between Irkutsk Oblast and Liaoning Province /Northeast China/. Agreements on cooperation have also been concluded with Heilongjiang Province /Northeast China/ and the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia /Northern China/. “In addition, we are interested in expanding interaction with Sichuan Province /Southwest China/, Shaanxi /Northwest China/ and Guangdong /Southern China/,” added the head of the Russian region.
Speaking about trade and economic cooperation, the governor reported that China has long held the first place among the trading partners of the Irkutsk region. “China’s share in the region’s foreign trade turnover accounts for 81 percent. By 2025, the foreign trade turnover increased by 2.7 percent compared to 2024,” he cited statistical data, specifying that the basis of exports from the Irkutsk region to China consists of fuel and energy products, metals, timber, and pulp and paper products.
Among the promising directions for the export of high value-added products, I. Kobzev named the supply of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, cable products, increased volumes of aluminum supplies and products made from it, ferroalloys, as well as products of the food industry.
He noted that China ranks among the top three leaders in terms of agricultural export volumes from the regions. “The main export agricultural products from the Irkutsk region to China are rapeseed seeds, legumes and cereals, margarine, rapeseed and soybean oils, beverages, sauces, confectionery products. It can be noted that the dynamics of agro-industrial complex product exports over 5 years shows growth,” the governor explained.
The interlocutor Sin Yua also said that in order to attract investments, including from China, the Russian government decided to create a special economic zone (SEZ) of a tourist-recreational type called “Baikal Shore” in the city of Baikalsk, Irkutsk region. The new SEZ will be located on the territory of the former Baikalsk pulp and paper plant. The purpose of its creation is to attract investments for the integrated infrastructural development of the region, as well as to transform the former industrial town into an ecologically clean center of tourism, recreation, and sustainable development.For residents of the OEZ, including potential investors from China, various benefits and preferences are provided. “We are open to dialogue and ready to provide additional consultations to interested Chinese companies,” assured I. Kobzev.
Speaking about cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, the governor indicated that cultural cooperation between the Irkutsk region and China has a long-standing history. State institutions of culture and art of the Russian region conduct joint events with Chinese partners in the fields of museum affairs and exhibition activities, musical arts, and cinema.
According to I. Kobzev, the development of partnerships with educational and scientific organizations of the PRC is one of the priority tasks of universities in the Irkutsk region. As an example, he cited the Confucius Institute at Irkutsk State University /ISU/, a center for the Chinese language. “Its activities are aimed at strengthening friendship between Russia and China through the development of programs, cultural exchanges, and promoting the study and dissemination of the Chinese language.”Every year, a qualifying round of the all-Russian stage of the World Competition “Chinese Language — This is a Bridge” among schoolchildren of the Siberian region of the Russian Federation is held at its base,
He added that within the framework of the cross-year of the formation of Russia and China, which is being held on the initiative of the leaders of the two countries in 2026-2027, a whole range of events in the field of cooperation with China is planned at universities in the Irkutsk region: Chinese culture days, internships, scientific-practical conferences, olympiads, contests, and exhibitions.
I. Kobzev also drew attention to the fact that after the introduction of the visa-free regime between Russia and China, the intensity of mutual tourist and business trips of residents of the Irkutsk region and Chinese citizens has increased significantly. In 2025, about 40 thousand tourists from China visited the Irkutsk region and Lake Baikal, and among the residents of the Irkutsk region, there was noted demand for travel to the province and resorts of China. “The visa-free regime has become a driver of growth in mutual tourist flows,” said the head of the Irkutsk region.
The interlocutor from Xinyu is confident that Russia and China have great potential for further building long-term relations both at the state level and at the interregional level. He noted that the 15th five-year plan of the CPC (2026-2030) is aimed at high-quality development, innovation, digitalization of the economy, and ecology, transitioning to qualitative growth and technological independence. “These priorities largely resonate with the goals of the socio-economic development strategy of the Russian Federation until 2030. I see here broad opportunities for our cooperation,” he indicated.
The governor emphasized that the Irkutsk region plans to expand the geography of cooperation with China both at the provincial level and at the city level. “Our common goal — based on the instructions of the leaders of the two countries, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Chairman of the PRC Xi Jinping, is to bring practical interaction to a qualitatively new level and to create an example of a successful, mutually beneficial interregional partnership,” concluded I. Kobzev.
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