22 July 2024
The Trans-Baikal Territory hosted the New
Horizons Foreign Economic Forum, an offsite event of the Eastern Economic Forum
(EEF) 2024, on 19–20 July. Roughly 1,500
business representatives, government officials, and experts from Russia, China,
Mongolia, and Iran took part in the Forum. The central event was the plenary
session ‘International Cooperation between Russia, China, and Mongolia’.
Representatives of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and
the Arctic, the Federation Council, and the State Duma, regional leaders, and
foreign diplomats discussed joint investment projects, the development of
tourism, and other opportunities for collaboration between the countries.
Minister for the Development of the Russian
Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov stressed that China and Mongolia
remain Russia’s largest strategic partners in the Far East. He said interaction
with these countries is actively expanding amidst the geopolitical fault lines
that have taken shape around the world in recent years, including in politics,
economics, education, culture, and other areas. In particular, Russia has
increased trade turnover with China and Mongolia, is intensifying cross-border
cooperation, and developing logistics infrastructure. Tourism plays a special
role in this work. In 2023, the Far Eastern regions became the leaders in
Russia in terms of the growth rate of inbound tourism compared with 2022, which
is almost four times higher than the Russian average. This does not only
include domestic tourism; residents of China and Mongolia are showing great
interest in the Russian Far East as well.
“Unique conditions have been created in the
Far East to attract investors and expand business. Special preferential
regimes, as well as administrative and tax benefits, have already proven and
continue to prove their effectiveness. In total, 300 residents of advanced
special economic zones and the Free Port of Vladivostok are investing in the
hospitality sector, implementing projects worth RUB 200 billion, and creating
around 13,800 jobs. These include major tourism projects that create
opportunities for environmental, cultural, educational, health, ski, and cruise
tourism. The scale and diversity of these joint projects offer a new quality of
collaboration. I am certain that we have boundless potential for cooperation in
all areas,” Chekunkov said in a video message to the Forum participants.
The economies of Russia, China, and Mongolia
are currently trending upwards, so cooperation between these countries has
enormous potential, Trans-Baikal Territory Governor Alexander Osipov said. The
region is developing its transport and logistics infrastructure, which has
taken economic ties with Russia’s foreign partners to a new level.
“Of all the neighbouring regions in the Far
East, the Trans-Baikal Territory has the widest
network of roads and railways that lead to the border. Our advantageous
position also allows us to reduce the delivery distance for exported cargo by
3,000 kilometres compared with delivery to the eastern ports of Russia, which
provided significant savings on rail and road transportation. The plans we have
adopted to expand border crossings and transport infrastructure capabilities
will result in our cross-border transportation capacity reaching 86 million
tonnes by 2030 and 95 million tonnes by 2036,” Alexander Osipov said.
The creation of an international advanced
special economic zone based on a decision made at the Eastern Economic Forum
2023 will provide a new impetus for the development of international
partnerships. It will be located in the Trans-Baikal Territory,
as the region has nine potential residents who can generate RUB 85 billion in investments.
“We continue to work on a bill to create an
international advanced special economic zone. We hope to complete this work at
the Eastern Economic Forum 2024 and adopt the law during the autumn session,”
Chairman of the State Duma’s Committee on the Development of the Far East and
the Arctic Nikolay Kharitonov said.
Consul General of the People’s Republic of
China in Irkutsk Li Hai said that cooperation in various areas and exchanging
experience are of great importance for the development of partnerships between
states.
“China, Russia, and Mongolia are neighbours
and partners. We are united by a common destiny. Mutually beneficial trilateral
cooperation has geographical advantages and deep traditions and is consistent
with the fundamental needs and interests of the peoples of the three
countries,” Li Hai said.
For his part, Vice Consul of Mongolia in
Ulan-Ude Chimed Batbileg said that cooperation between the three countries is
strategically important for their further development. Consul General of Iran
in Kazan Davud Mirzakhani said that intensifying international ties is inevitable
and crucial in the current geopolitical conditions.
In addition, the Forum featured panel sessions
dedicated to such issues as medical and health tourism, the creation of new
tourist routes in the Far East, and investment and support measures as part of
the implementation of projects of international and regional importance.
The cultural programme of the New Horizons
Forum included the ‘On the Great Tea Road’ international art exhibition, a
joint exhibition of works by Russian, Chinese, and Mongolian masters. In
addition, participants had a chance to view an exhibition by the modern Russian
sculptor and gunsmith Zhigzhit Bayaskhalanov and the theatrical performance ‘My
Cradle is the Golden Aga’. The grand opening of the sculpture ‘The Cauldron of
Friendship of Three Countries’ took place on the final day of the Forum. In
addition, the Forum featured a photo exhibition about tourist sites in Trans-Baikal,
a presentation of traditional products and souvenirs from craftsmen of the
region, as well as various master classes in painting and appliqué work.
The New Horizons Trans-Baikal
Foreign Economic Forum is a platform that aims to promote cooperation between
business and government, strengthen international relations, and present the
economic potential and tourism opportunities not only of the Trans-Baikal
Territory, but also of the entire Far East. The Forum is being held with the
support of the governor and government of the Trans-Baikal Territory, the
Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic, the Far
East and Arctic Development Corporation, and the Roscongress Foundation.
The 9th Eastern Economic Forum will take place on 3–6 September 2024 in Vladivostok on the campus of Far Eastern Federal University. The Forum is being organized by the Roscongress Foundation.
