This year, Russia and China are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. In this anniversary year, the partnership between Russia and China is at a high level of strategic cooperation in the spheres of trade, economy, culture, humanitarian affairs, and joint geopolitical and geo-economic initiatives. China remains Russia’s largest trading partner, while Russia ranks among the top ten trading partners of China. Additionally, the share of settlements in national currencies continues to grow. The structure of trade is being optimized. Despite the significant role of energy resources as a stabilizing factor, the share of non-commodity, non-energy exports is steadily increasing. The creation of new growth points in areas such as IT, the digital economy, and biomedicine is accelerating. The presence of Chinese manufacturers of automotive, construction and household equipment is expanding, and technological cooperation with localized production in Russia is developing. At the same time, agricultural trade is expanding, and market access is increasing: Russian pork is now being exported, while flour, beef, ice cream, and other products are in high demand among Chinese consumers. New logistics routes and services are being developed intensively. Furthermore, work is underway to align the integration potentials of the EAEU and the One Belt, One Road project, as well as within BRICS and the SCO. Against the backdrop of geo-economic projects, both countries are placing increasing importance on partnership in culture, science, and education. In May 2024, a large programme for the Year of Cross-Cultural Exchange was launched, becoming a new driver of the comprehensive partnership between the two countries. What are the trends in the development of trade and economic relations between Russia and China? What are the growth factors for the bilateral trade turnover between Russia and China? What is the role of interregional interaction? How does cultural and humanitarian collaboration deepen cooperation and trust between countries? What are the priorities for the development of investment cooperation and industrial collaboration? How are new supply chains and transport and logistics projects developing? How can cooperation in high-tech areas be expanded? How, in the context of geopolitical transformation, can the new challenges arising from the deepening trade and economic cooperation be addressed?
Moderators Kirill Babaev,
Director, Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences; President, National Coordinating Center for International Business Cooperation Zhou Liqun,
Chairman, Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia
Kirill Babaev
Director, Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences; President, National Coordinating Center for International Business Cooperation
Zhou Liqun
Chairman, Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia
Date of birth: 25 October 1963 Place of birth: People’s Republic of China, province of Heilongjiang Academic degree: PhD Marital status: married, two children 09.1982 – 07.1998 Bachelor’s degree in electric engineering, Department of Electric Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (China) 09.1986 – 06.1989 Master’s degree in electric engineering, Department of Electric Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (China) 09.1989 – 12.1992 Internship in electric engineering as part of a state programme, Department of Electric Engineering, Moscow Power Engineering Institute (Russia), PhD 12.1992 – 10.1998 General Director of Moscow branch, SINOCHEM; 10.1998 – 2010 President, Apex (HK) Petrochemical; Deputy General Director, Hong Kong Winsway Group (specializing in international trade of petroleum products and petrochemicals); 08.2010 – 04.2017 Deputy General Director, China Chengtong International Investment, responsible for international trade; 04.2017 – present General Director, Centre for Development of Trade and Management of Investment to Europe; General Director, Greenwood. 08.2017 – present President, Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia. Public work: member of the acting 12th National Political Committee, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Vice President of Society for Chinese-Russian friendship, Deputy Chairman of the CIS branch of the Society of Chinese Graduates of European and US universities, President of the Association of entrepreneurs-graduates of CIS universities, permanent Deputy Chairman of the Association of entrepreneurs-graduates of European and US universities.
Panellists
Zhu Guangchao,
Vice President, State Grid Corporation of China Alexander Kalinin,
President, All‑Russian Non‑Governmental Organization of Small and Medium‑Sized Businesses OPORA RUSSIA Viktor Linnik,
President, Miratorg Holding Olga Lyubimova,
Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Veronika Nikishina,
General Director, Russian Export Center Zhang Hanhui,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Russian Federation Ke Jin,
General Director, China Freight Forwarding Company Alexander Tsybulskiy,
Governor of Arkhangelsk Region
Zhang Chengwu,
General Director of the Russian Branch, China National Petroleum Corporation
Zhu Guangchao
Vice President, State Grid Corporation of China
Alexander Kalinin
President, All‑Russian Non‑Governmental Organization of Small and Medium‑Sized Businesses OPORA RUSSIA
Born on November 4, 1966 in the city of Chelyabinsk. In 1989 graduated with honors from the Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute, specialization in robototronics, diploma qualification in electrical engineering. From 1989 to 1991 has undertaken postgraduate training program at the Department of Engineering Economics of the Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute. In 1991 founded a wholesale and retail company engaged in export and import operations. Fluent in spoken English. In 1995-1998 has graduated from the Ural Academy of Public Administration with a degree in law. In 1998 invested in the creation of a manufacturing company. The company designs and manufactures motor control centers, co-author of an invention patent. In 2002 became a founding member of All-Russian Non-Governmental Organization of Small and Medium Business “OPORA RUSSIA”. In 2005 was elected Chairman of the Chelyabinsk regional office of “OPORA RUSSIA”. In 2007 was elected to the Board of “OPORA RUSSIA”. In 2012 was elected first Vice-President of “OPORA RUSSIA” on energy, infrastructure and cluster policy. Since 2013 – member of the Government Commission on Electric Power Development. In 2013 was elected Co-Chairman of the Staff of the Chelyabinsk regional branch of the All-Russian Public Movement “People's Front” for Russia!” Since 2014 – member of the Board of Directors of JSC “ROSSETI” (June 2014), member of the Board of Directors of RAO “UES” (August 2014). October 29, 2014 was elected President of All-Russian Non-Governmental Organization of Small and Medium Business “OPORA RUSSIA” and Non-Profit Partnership “OPORA” Awarded with certificates of acknowledgement of the Presidential Administration, Government of the Russian Federation, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region, Legislative Assembly of the Chelyabinsk region.
Viktor Linnik
President, Miratorg Holding
Olga Lyubimova
Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation
Born 31 December 1980 in Moscow
2007: Graduated from the Department of Theatre Journalism, Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS), with a degree in Theatre Studies.
2006–2008: Chief Editor, Directorate of Television Programmes, Moskovia Television and Radio Company.
2010–2011: Team chief, information and analysis programme, Directorate of Information Programmes, Kultura State Television and Radio Company (GTRK).
2011–2012: Chief producer of documentaries, Programme Department, TV3 Television Channel.
2015–2016: Adviser, State Support Section for Non-Fiction and Animation Films, Cinema Department, Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
2016–2018: Deputy Director, Directorate of Social Programmes and Reports, Channel One.
2018–2020: Director, Film Department, Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
21 January 2020: Appointed Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation by Presidential Executive Order.
Veronika Nikishina
General Director, Russian Export Center
Panel member (Minister) of commerce in Eurasian Economic Commission since February 2016. Born 29 April 1968. PhD in Economics, presented a thesis on Managing the access of Russian goods to foreign markets in modern conditions. Prior to appointment as member of Commission had held a position of assistant to the First Deputy of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation. Veronika Nikishina held management positions in the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, including Deputy Director of the Department for Trade Negotiations, Head of the Department of American Countries and the Department for Coordination, Development and Regulation of Foreign Economic Activities. After 17 years of working for the Ministry of Economic Development, Veronika Nikishina has extensive experience in identifying and eliminating various trade barriers, applying trade protection and veterinary, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, as well as experience in international negotiations. Currently Veronika Nikishina supervises a number of key areas for the Eurasian Economic Union, such as customs tariff and non-tariff regulation, the establishment of preferential trade regimes with third countries (free trade area), and the application of protective measures by the Eurasian Economic Union. From February 2020 - General Director, Russian Export Center.
Zhang Hanhui
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Russian Federation
Ke Jin
General Director, China Freight Forwarding Company
Alexander Tsybulskiy
Governor of Arkhangelsk Region
Born on July 15, 1979 in Moscow. Education: Graduated from the Military University attached to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in 2001. Graduated from the Moscow Institute of International Business in 2006. Fluent in English, Greek and French. Work experience: 1996-2005: Military service. 2005-2008: Worked in various positions at the Department of Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation. 2008-2011: Worked in various positions аt the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation. 2011-2013: Director of the Department of International Relations and Development of Cross-Border Cooperation, Director of the Department for the Coordination of State Industry Programs, Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation. 2013-2014: Aide to the Minister, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Director of the Department for Interaction with Customs Union Authorities and Economic Cooperation with CIS Countries, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. 2014-2017: Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Since September 2017 - Acting Governor of Nenets Autonomous Area. On October 1, 2018, assumed the post of Governor of the Nenets Autonomous Area. From April 3, 2020 - Acting Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region. From October 8, 2020 - Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region.
Zhang Chengwu
General Director of the Russian Branch, China National Petroleum Corporation
Front row participants Ruslan Davydov,
First Deputy Head, Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation German Maslov,
Vice President of Liner and Logistic Division, FESCO Igor Tonkovidov,
Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer, Sovcomflot He Zhenwei,
Chairman, China Overseas Development Association Aleksey Shilo,
Deputy Managing Director, Head, Centre for Corporate Transport Services (CFTO), Russian Railways Sergey Shishkarev,
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Delo Group of Companies
Ruslan Davydov
First Deputy Head, Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation
German Maslov
Vice President of Liner and Logistic Division, FESCO
German Maslov has served as FESCO Vice-president for Liner and Logistics Division since September 2020. Mr. Maslov has been working in FESCO Group for more than 20 years; he has worked his way up from being an assistant captain on the company’s ships and a head of department to a head of logistics clusters in FESCO representative companies in Australia and Hong-Kong. From 2015 to 2018 he was serving as the Chief Operating Officer of FIT, then he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of “FESCO Integrated Transport” LLC. Mr. Maslov graduated from Admiral Nevelskoy Maritime State University with a degree in Engineering and Ship navigation, he also holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Higher School of Economics National Research University.
Igor Tonkovidov
Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer, Sovcomflot
He Zhenwei
Chairman, China Overseas Development Association
Mr. He Zhenwei is currently serving as the Secretary General of China Overseas Industry Association, senior economist, and visiting professor of Dalian Maritime University. In 1986, Mr. He graduated from the Department of Management Engineering in Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), and got his Master Degree in Energy Economics from HIT in 1990. In 1996, he was dispatched to the Economic Counselor’s Office of the Embassy of People’s Republic of China in Russia, served as first secretary. In 2003, he came back to China and worked as a consultant of division level in Department of Foreign Investment of the Development and Reform Committee of Heilongjiang Province. One year later, he was in the same position in the Department of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). In 2007, he was transferred as Deputy Secretary-General in China Overseas Development Association (directly under the administration of NDRC), and he was promoted to Secretary General in May 2016. Mr. He Zhenwei, with working experience in NDRC, is familiar with the national overseas investment policy. He has accumulated abundant experience in overseas investment from various projects. China Overseas Investment Fair (COIFAIR), founded in 2009 under the leadership of Mr. He, has been successfully held for 8 years, which has huge influence both at home and abroad. In recent years, Mr. He has led a delegate of Chinese enterprises to conduct investment investigations in many countries and regions, and has made great contribution to the implementation of many investment cooperation projects. As a senior economist and visiting professor in university, Mr. He has delivered speeches to students in higher education institutions like Peking University and University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). He has been invited for several times to the Dialogue program of CCTV Finance Channel. Mr. He Zhenwei is currently serving as the Secretary General of China Overseas Industry Association, senior economist, and visiting professor of Dalian Maritime University. In 1986, Mr. He graduated from the Department of Management Engineering in Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), and got his Master Degree in Energy Economics from HIT in 1990. In 1996, he was dispatched to the Economic Counselor’s Office of the Embassy of People’s Republic of China in Russia, served as first secretary. In 2003, he came back to China and worked as a consultant of division level in Department of Foreign Investment of the Development and Reform Committee of Heilongjiang Province. One year later, he was in the same position in the Department of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). In 2007, he was transferred as Deputy Secretary-General in China Overseas Development Association (directly under the administration of NDRC), and he was promoted to Secretary General in May 2016. Mr. He Zhenwei, with working experience in NDRC, is familiar with the national overseas investment policy. He has accumulated abundant experience in overseas investment from various projects. China Overseas Investment Fair (COIFAIR), founded in 2009 under the leadership of Mr. He, has been successfully held for 8 years, which has huge influence both at home and abroad. In recent years, Mr. He has led a delegate of Chinese enterprises to conduct investment investigations in many countries and regions, and has made great contribution to the implementation of many investment cooperation projects. As a senior economist and visiting professor in university, Mr. He has delivered speeches to students in higher education institutions like Peking University and University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). He has been invited for several times to the Dialogue program of CCTV Finance Channel.
Aleksey Shilo
Deputy Managing Director, Head, Centre for Corporate Transport Services (CFTO), Russian Railways
Sergey Shishkarev
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Delo Group of Companies
Sergey Shishkarev was born on February 2, 1968, in Novorossiysk. He graduated with honors from the Red Banner Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense and the Russian Presidential Academy of Public Administration. Doctor in law.
In 1993, he founded Delo Group, one of the largest holdings in the transportation services market, and headed the company until 1999. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Delo Group.
From 1999 to 2012, Sergey Shishkarev was three times elected Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, worked in various committees of the State Duma. He is the author of more than 50 bills.
Since 2015, Sergey Shishkarev has been heading the Russian Handball Federation.
In December 2022, he was elected Vice President of the Russian Olympic Committee, and in March 2023 became a member of the Presidential Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports.
Sergey Shishkarev is a member of the Government Commission on Transport.
He actively supports social projects, such as the development of professional and children's sports and demography.
