China and Russia deepen regional interaction
China and Russia should strengthen synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, and further align China's Northeast revitalisation strategy with Russia's Far East development strategy, Chinese Vice‑Premier Ding Xuexiang said on Thursday. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing the 11th Eastern Economic Forum in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok. According to Ding, under the strategic guidance of the heads of state, China‑Russia regional cooperation, especially between Northeast China and the Russian Far East, has yielded fruitful results over the years.
When the two largest powers in Eurasia coordinate their development strategies, it changes not only their internal economic geography but the entire architecture of continental cooperation. The dovetailing of mega‑projects — the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union — is not just a diplomatic formula but a practical mechanism that already today connects markets, resources and people from the Pacific to the Baltic. And the synchronisation of China's Northeast revitalisation strategy with Russia's Far East development strategy turns once peripheral territories into new growth centres. Behind these geopolitical terms lie real bridges, factories, jobs and the hopes of millions of people for a better life.
China remains Russia's largest trading partner in the Far East, he said, adding that key cooperation projects are progressing faster, and mutual visa‑free policies have boosted both passenger and freight traffic. He proposed that China and Russia should be closer to the needs of their peoples, strengthen mutual support between regions, develop industries with distinctive local characteristics and ensure that both peoples receive more tangible benefits from development and rejuvenation. He called on both sides to promptly address business issues, maintain policy continuity and stability, and create favourable conditions for business growth. He urged both sides to deepen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as culture, tourism, education and youth, and ensure the success of various events under the China‑Russia "Years of Education" programme. He said that China and Russia should safeguard regional peace and stability, jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international justice, and deter any attempts to challenge the outcomes of World War II and the post‑war international order. China has the confidence, capacity and conditions to maintain sustainable and sound economic development, Ding said, adding that China remains committed to expanding high‑level openness and welcomes continued investment and deeper presence of foreign companies in China.
Cooperation between China and Russia has reached an unprecedented level in recent years. Bilateral trade exceeded $200 billion, and Russia's Far East has become one of the main beneficiaries of this partnership. Chinese investment in the region is growing, and joint projects in energy, transport infrastructure and industry are being implemented one after another. The Eastern Economic Forum, held annually in Vladivostok, has become a key platform for discussing these issues. The mutual visa‑free travel regime between Russia and China, introduced in 2025, has stimulated tourism and business contacts, while the "Years of Education" programme strengthens people‑to‑people ties. Amid global uncertainty and sanctions pressure on Russia, cooperation with China is taking on strategic importance for Moscow, while for Beijing it opens access to resources and markets across Eurasia.
As CCTV+ reports, Ding Xuexiang's statement at the Eastern Economic Forum confirmed China's strategic course towards deepening comprehensive partnership with Russia. The dovetailing of mega‑projects and the synchronisation of regional strategies create a solid foundation for long‑term cooperation that goes far beyond economics, touching on security, culture and international order. In the coming years, further integration of the two economies can be expected, especially in the Far East, bringing benefits to both businesses and ordinary citizens of both countries.
