The Russian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (RCCC) is proud to host a New Year’s reception for Russian and Chinese business circles

On December 14, 2023, the Russian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (RCCC) held a New Year’s reception for the Russian-Chinese business community at the Radisson Hotel in Moscow. The conference was attended and addressed by Mr. Zhang Hanhui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Russian Federation, Mr. Melnikov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of Russia, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society, Mr. Dmitry Tinovieva, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Government, Minister of the Department of Investment, Industry and Science, Mr. Dmitry Tinovieva, Minister of the Moscow City Government, Director General of the Department of Foreign Economic Activity and International Relations of the Russian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce. President of the Russian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Director General of China Chengtong International Investment Co. Zhou Liqun held a reception.

First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chairman of the CPRF Central Committee Novikov, Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Chinese Embassy in Russia Liu Xuesong, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Cheba, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Control of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Gusev, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Executive Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Committee of the All-Russian Party “Unity”. Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Countries at Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov Maslov. Lomonosov Maslov, Dean of the Faculty of Economics of St. Petersburg State University Marganya, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Krasilnikov, Co-Chairman of the Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Mankovich, as well as member enterprises of the Russian-Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and representatives of the business circles of China and Russia came together to celebrate new achievements of cooperation between Russia and China and discuss a new chapter of friendship between Russia and China.

Ambassador Zhang Hanhui expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the business people of the two countries for their contributions to the development of Sino-Russian economic and trade cooperation over the past year, and warmly congratulated them on the excellent achievements in Sino-Russian economic and trade cooperation. Ambassador Zhang Hanhui pointed out that the world has entered a new period of turbulence and change due to the accelerated development of century-long changes. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era has withstood the test of international winds and clouds and has always maintained a high level of development. This year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held two meetings and reached important consensus on deepening China-Russia trade, economic and other areas of cooperation, drew up a new development plan for bilateral relations, set the direction of cooperation in various fields and established a new mode of great power relations. The year 2023 is a decisive year for Sino-Russian trade and economic cooperation, with rapid growth in both the quality and quantity of trade and economic cooperation and many fruitful results. China has been Russia’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. From January to November this year, the volume of bilateral trade reached $218.2 billion, 27 percent more than the same period last year, making it possible to reach the $200 billion target proposed by the two heads of state ahead of schedule. New opportunities for cooperation in automobile, energy, agriculture, finance and other fields are emerging, and cooperation in new fields such as biomedicine and science and technology innovation is booming. Ambassador Zhang Hanhui emphasized that the hard-won successes of China-Russia economic and trade cooperation are inseparable from the joint efforts of the Chinese and Russian business communities. Against the backdrop of growing uncertainties in the current international economic situation, China is willing to continue to make full use of the institutional advantages of the socialist market economy, the demand advantages of the mega market, the supply advantages of the holistic industrial system and the advantages of a large number of high-quality labor force, which will open up new opportunities for pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. The Chinese Embassy in Russia will continue to support and promote cooperation between enterprises of the two countries, and make unremitting efforts to better convert the great advantages of Sino-Russian friendly relations into great cooperation results and push practical cooperation to a higher level.

In his speech, Melnikov congratulated Sino-Russian trade and economic cooperation in 2023 on its great achievements. He noted that the frequent interaction between the leadership of China and Russia in 2023 has attracted the attention of the world, which is not only a manifestation of mutual respect and friendly exchanges between the two countries, but also an important political basis for the bilateral trade turnover to exceed 200 billion U.S. dollars, as well as a positive initiative to promote cooperation between the two countries in large-scale projects and expand the scale of trade and economic cooperation. The year 2024 will mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China as well as the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. The year 2024 will also usher in the Year of Cultural Exchanges between China and Russia, and the China-Russia Friendship Society will play an active role in organizing mutually beneficial cooperation projects in culture, education, sports and youth exchanges between the two countries, providing greater support for future multi-disciplinary practical cooperation between China and Russia.

In her speech, Tinovieva praised the important role of the Russian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the development of economic and trade exchanges between China and Russia, as well as local cooperation between the two countries. She noted that the investment project of the Chinese company “Chengtong”, the head division of RCCCI, in Moscow region – Greenwood International Trade Center in Moscow – is the largest Chinese business investment project in Russia, which has been successfully operating for more than 13 years, and the park has attracted more than 300 enterprises from 14 countries, of which more than 170 are Chinese, playing an important role in the economic development of Moscow region. It has played an important role in the economic development of the Moscow region. Moscow Region has always regarded economic cooperation with China as a priority development area and plans to establish and put into operation the China-Russia Industrial Park together with Greenwood in 2024, promote further development of China-Russia production capacity cooperation and give a new impetus to trade and economic practical cooperation between the two countries.

Cheremin noted that Moscow, as the capital of Russia, plays a special role in Russia-China cooperation in various fields. The year 2023 is an important milestone in the development of relations between the two countries, and the Moscow government led a delegation to attend the Belt and Road Forum held in Beijing in October this year, during which the two sides held in-depth discussions on the main points of bilateral cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in 2024, as well as joint work on the establishment and operation of the China-Russia Industrial Park. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the main points of bilateral cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in 2024. He noted that the trade and economic cooperation between Moscow and China is at a high level and has great potential for development, and the mutually beneficial partnership between Russia and China will bring more benefits to the peoples of the two countries and promote the lasting development of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

President Zhou Liqun warmly welcomed the representatives of the two governments, business colleagues, experts and scholars, as well as friends from the media attending this New Year reception for the Russian and Chinese business communities, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to friends from all walks of life in Russia and China who have long supported the work of the Chamber and helped Chinese enterprises to operate and develop their businesses in Russia. He noted that in 2023, under the strategic leadership of the heads of state of China and Russia, relations between the two countries are developing at a high level, and the bilateral trade volume has surpassed the 200 billion U.S. dollar mark. Sino-Russian pragmatic economic and trade cooperation has been fruitful and successful. The fruits of the development of Sino-Russian relations are brought about by the joint efforts of the peoples of the two countries. The Chinese Main Chamber of Commerce in Russia will work hand in hand with friends from all walks of life in China and Russia and continue to make new and greater contributions to the development of China-Russia relations as well as the traditional friendship between the two peoples.

The event also included a book launch ceremony for the “Report on the Development of Chinese Enterprises in Russia in 2023”, which was presented by Ambassador Zhang Hanhui, Chairman Melnikov, Vice Chairman Novikov, and President Zhou Liqun. For the third consecutive year, the China Chamber of Commerce in Russia (CCRC) has published the “Report on the Development of Chinese Enterprises in Russia”, which serves as a reference and guide for Chinese enterprises investing in Russia, and plays an active role in promoting the healthy development of Sino-Russian economic and trade cooperation. 2023 was released with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Russia and has been eagerly anticipated by the business communities of Russia and China.

At the event, the results of Sino-Russian trade and economic cooperation in 2023 were presented in the form of a short movie. The General Chamber of Commerce of China in Russia presented ten major achievements of its work in 2023 to Chinese and Russian business representatives, including organizing a grand Lantern Festival in early 2023; holding a seminar on cooperation between Chinese automobile and construction machinery enterprises and Russia; and organizing Chinese enterprises, foreign students and Chinese diaspora in Russia to warmly welcome and provide security for high-level delegations during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia Memoirs by descendants of Chinese revolutionaries “Our Dear International Children’s Home”, singing the main theme of generational friendship between China and Russia; together with the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society, held the first table tennis tournament “China-Russia Friendship Cup”; organized the “Russia-China” business dialogue at the 26th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum; together with the Russian Academy of Sciences, held the “Russia-China” business dialogue. Together with the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Center for the Study and Research of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era was established, and the Chinese version of the “Collection of Works of Russian Experts and Scientists on Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era” was officially released. In addition, the Russian Academy of Sciences organized the Rostock: Mutually Beneficial Cooperation between Russia and China forum and held the China-Russia business dialog within the framework of the 8th Eastern Economic Forum.

The event was supported by the Greenwood International Trade Center in Moscow, Huaxun Group, Sany Heavy Industries Russia, Merrill Corporation, Xiaomi and other companies. The Greenwood Children’s Choir gave the representatives of Chinese and Russian business circles a wonderful cultural performance, and the reception was a complete success in a festive and relaxed atmosphere.