Since the signing of the agreement on strategic partnership between Russia and China has already passed 15 years. Within the partnership there have been done many important measures aimed at its development. As a result, according to Chinese Ambassador Li Hui Russia: “currently, China and Russia see the best times of their relationship.”
Political and economic trends follow cultural. Culture serves as a “growth factor” in the relationship.
About the implemented programmes and prospects for Russian-Chinese cooperation it was told in the press center TASS, on 01 November, 2016, on the eve of the 21st regular meeting of the heads of governments. On 07 November 2016 Russia will welcome an official visit the Prime Minister of the state Council of China Li Keqiang .
Li Hui stressed that “there are all the conditions for deepening of relations”, and now “it is necessary to pay great attention to the development of cooperation in the business sphere.” According to the Ambassador of China, this includes the following features:
- To build up joint production, research and development;
- Increased investments (especially direct) and support business cooperation;
- To promote dialogue in the field of innovative cooperation;
- To strengthen cooperation between Russian regions and provinces of China
- To facilitate the holding of industrial exhibitions and forums, encouraging cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.
Chairman of the Russian-Chinese Committee of friendship, peace and development Boris Titov said that today, in particular, it requires cooperation between our Nations in sport, science and other things. Important infrastructure element in this relationship was the Silk road Fund. the Cooperation in the economy today successfully develops quantitatively and qualitatively. Among major successful projects was mentioned Yamal LNG – a joint venture to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) owned by NOVATEK (50.1%), group Total (20%) and China National petroleum Corporation (20%) and Silk road Fund (9.9%).
Qualitative change in economic cooperation primarily concerns food, aerospace industries and small businesses. Food cooperation (export from Russia to China increased by 30%) is based on the fact that China is interested in environmentally friendly products from Russia, so it buys products and invests in production (in particular, in the Amur region, Primorsky Krai). We are talking primarily about the poultry, pork, beef. In the space sector there is small satellites mutual interest. Also soon the forum of small businesses in both countries will be held too.
Intensification of cooperation in the economy contributes to the development of culture. Special representative of Russian President for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi said that “the more economic cooperation makes easier to find sponsors for cultural projects“. Among the most promising areas he mentioned opening of an art market in China (galleries and museums of contemporary art), the cooperation of the Philharmonic societies of both countries, as well as mutual learning of languages.
China ranks 5th in incoming tourism to Russia. In 2015, our country was visited by 1’122 thousand Chinese tourists. In the future it is planned the significant increase in guests from China, keeping in mind the fact of 100-year anniversary of the 1917 revolution. Preparation for the visit with desire to provide a comfortable stay in the country for guests led to the adaptation of hotels, restaurants and service organizations for Chinese tourists (China Friendly program).
Enhanced cooperation with China changed the mentality of our people. Head of the Center for social projecting “Platform” Alexey Firsov has told that “Asian angle begins to dominate in the minds of the people“, and at the moment 68% of Russians consider China as an important partner, a quarter of the population trusts it.
The next strategic step in the development of partnership between Russia and China is a Pair of Eurasian integration and the Economic belt of the silk road, which was signed a year and a half ago, the heads of the two countries. Around the implementation of this strategic project today held a lot of consultations and negotiations at the global level, since it requires creation of infrastructure, intergovernmental agreements, free trade zones and things like that. Gradually, this framework agreement is becoming more and more concrete shape, as seen in the portrait of Russian-Chinese relations.
