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Russia Taking Part in Development of China's West
Russia is taking part in China's ambitious program to develop the vast western areas, said a Russian official Chongqing Friday.
Vladimir Portyakov, counselor at the Russian embassy to China, said that Russia and China are now engaged in some trial development projects in China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province.
Attending an international symposium on developing China's west, Portyakov said the cooperation projects, which will strengthen Sino-Russian ties, include building a modern plant to make power transmitting equipment in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang.
Russia and China are also negotiating on joint exploration of mineral resources, petroleum and natural gas in Qinghai and Xinjiang, he added.
According to China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, exchanges between Russia and the local governments and enterprises in western China are becoming more frequent, and the border trade volume between western China and localities in Russia is on the rise.
Last June, the Chinese government launched its grand plan to develop China's western region, which covers 12 provinces, autonomous regions and a municipality. The ambitious move has attracted world attention, and now some Western transnational corporations have increased their presence in China's west.
Portyakov said that Russia is now involved in power generating projects in China's Hebei, Hubei and Jiangsu provinces.
Russia and China have successfully cooperated in some heavy industry and power generating projects, which have laid a sound basis for Russia to join in the greater development of China's west, he said.
He announced that Russia is considering providing machinery and other equipment for a project to pipe gas from China's west to the east.
Portyakov said that Russia's participation in the development of western China will not only promote economic and trade ties between the two countries, it will also enhance the bilateral relations.
Li Jingwen, an economist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the cooperation between China and Russia has solid basis in terms of history, geography and industrial structure.
He said much of Russia's experience and technology can be applied to the development of western China, stressing that from a long-term perspective, great potential exists for future cooperation between China and Russia in the region.
The borderline between China and Russia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) stretches for more than 1,000 km. The Euro-Asian Bridge, an important passage linking the Orient to Central Asia and Europe, runs through China's west. The ancient "Silk Road" and Genghis Khan's westward expedition had immeasurable influence on the course of world history.
Both Chinese and Russian authorities hold that the development of western China will benefit the economic development and social stability of China's neighboring countries.
In his visit to Russia early this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan informed the Russian side of China's strategy of developing and opening up its western areas and said that China invites Russia to take part in the mammoth program.
Kanstandin Remchukov, vice chairman of the natural resources committee of Russian Duma, said that the Russian government has decided to place priority on the development of economic and trade relations with China.
He noted that Russia's involvement in China's western development plan will push the two countries' relations to a new level.
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