The economic relations between Russia and China have reached an unprecedented level, becoming an example of how to build inter-state relations in the modern world. Vladimir Putin said that during the opening of his bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping.
Dmitry Khrustalyov with the details on the common projects that help the development of our strategic partnership.
Comprehensive strategic partnership based on equal rights and respect towards each other's interests. Over the last 30 years, Russia and China had no major disagreement. Moscow and Beijing have been long solving their common global issues in terms of both politics and economy. That's only possible at the highest level of trust. From now on, the way to China became 1000 km shorter. On April 2, 2019, the first railroad bridge connected the banks of the Amur. Soon, the new route will be used to supply coal from Yakutia, wood and food from the Khabarovsk Krai and the Amur Oblast to China. It's possible that the railroad will be used for passenger traffic as well, becoming an essential part of the new Silk Road.
According to the statistics, Primorye and the Amur Oblast are two of the most popular Russian regions among the Chinese tourists. Street signs, price tags, and even news are in Chinese. The largest common energy project the Power of Siberia has stepped over the Amur, connecting to the Chinese section of the new gas pipeline. According to the contract, Russia will supply China with 38 billion cubic m of gas every year during the next 30 years. The construction is going ahead of schedule. It'll begin pumping gas on December 1, 2019.
One of the biggest common projects is the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant. Construction began back in the early 2000s. The first power unit was launched in 2007. In March 2019, a contract for the construction of the sixth and seventh power units was signed. China funds the project. In addition, Russia's become the biggest fuel exporter on the Chinese market.
The countries also actively cooperate in space, high technologies, and investments.
China is Russia's essential economic partner, its share is about 15%. Commodity turnover keeps growing. This year has broken all previous records: more than $100 billion.
Alexey Maslov, orientalist: “Russia and China both oppose any form of sanctions if their target doesn't threaten, say, the mankind. Secondly, Russia and China have the same approach to territorial integrity. And the third thing is the attempt to create a new fairer system of bank and finance relations. China's doing that by creating a series of new banks like the new Infrastructure Investment Bank in Asia. Russia participates in that within the BRICS framework. In this field, Russia and China also have common interests.”
The common interests combine the potential of two ambitious projects: One Belt, One Road, and the European Economic Community. Moscow and Beijing agreed to cooperate in those fields back in 2015. Dozens of countries are ready to cooperate with the EAEC. According to the Russian President, the Eurasian partnership can alter the landscape of the continent both in terms of politics and economics.
Vladimir Putin: "We've been consistently upgrading the sea, land vehicle, and railroad infrastructure. We invest considerable resources in the development of the Northern Sea Route to make it a competitive global transport artery. If we look at the bigger picture the infrastructure projects announced within the framework of the EAEC and the One Belt, One Road initiative, in conjunction with the Northern Sea Route, can create a new advanced transport configuration of the Eurasian continent".
China intends to join efforts in order to build a network of sea and railroad routes from Asia to Europe, resembling the ancient Silk Road. It's planned to establish free trade zones along the new Road. It will be a single economic space from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Xi Jinping: "We're not exporting our social structure and development model and aren't imposing it during the implementation of the One Road, One Belt project. Instead of repeating stereotypes of the geopolitical game, we'll create a new form of mutually-beneficial cooperation".
Beijing sees Moscow as its key partner. At least two routes are supposed to run through Russia. Ultimately, China will have to spend trillions of dollars. But instead of plain math, China focuses on its geoeconomic and geostrategic interests.
Yuri Tavrovsky, orientalist: "In terms of math, they've been spending money so far. For example, every container that travels to the ports of Europe from China costs the Chinese government about $3000. Sea is cheaper but the railroad is faster and also safer. China never excludes the possibility of some anti-Chinese actions performed by the US aimed to cut off China's trade routes. 90% of the Chinese export and import currently go through the Strait of Malacca. It'd be enough to put one aircraft carrier there to stifle the route. Railroads and highways that go to Europe through friendly Russia, Kazakhstan, and etc. are a safe alternative".
Putin, who announced his support for the project from the very beginning, immediately noted that it's important to establish open and transparent integration. The Chinese authorities naturally understand that as well. For two years after assuming office, the incumbent President of China Xi Jinping was choosing Russia as the primary destination of his foreign visits. He came up with the idea of the new Silk Road and proposed it for the first time during his speech in Astana in 2013. By the way, the former President of Kazakhstan is now called the father of the idea of European integration. He was talking about that back in 1994 when he was giving a speech at the MSU. The countries will obviously continue promoting the two projects and bringing them closer.
Alexey Denisov, Editor-in-Chief of History channel: "The Chinese managed to create the most successful trade project in the history of human civilization the Great Silk Road. The Chinese goods were delivered to Europe through great distances and challenges through deserts, mountains, and different cultures. What does that show us? The Chinese are great diplomats. Today, the project proposed by Xi Jinping One Belt, One Road is an attempt to recreate the past noble and positive experience of international communication when nations don't fight each other or try to conquer each other and impose their will".
Undoubtedly, today's Russia and China have common interests. Trade turnover is growing and large-scale state projects are being implemented. The states are actively cooperating in the field of security. Our state leaders are good friends. But there's another key aspect.
The small and medium businesses are getting more interested in cooperation. In addition to the economic, more cultural ties are being established. Academic exchange and direct contacts between various regions of Russia and China. It means that communication is established not only on the state leader level. The people are communicating. Perhaps, that's the brand new element of our relations.
Dmitry Khrustalyov, Andrey Razhev, Andrey Lapidus, Alexey Karpukhin, and Kirill Malykhin Vesti.
