MOSCOW, RUSSIA - The President of Russia Vladimir Putin will discuss gas prices and joint aviation projects during his visit to China. Without any doubt the upcoming visit could be of historic significance. According to ‘MIR 24’ journalist, Dmitry Barbash, “ A record-breaking number of agreements are expected to be adopted in Beijing - about forty documents”. “Given the fact that center of economic and political gravity is gradually shifting from Europe towards Asia-Pacific region, reorientation of Russian policy to the East would be reasonable”, said the deputy director of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies RAS Andrey Ostrovsky.

The gas contract is probably the most anticipated one. Russia has the ability to supply 68 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year to the Celestial Empire. Furthermore this contract will stimulate and renew interest in exploring and developing the energy resources of East Siberia region. “It’s not just a pipeline that is going to be built. It is about building gas processing and gas chemical complexes. All kinds of plastic, films, polyethylene, and helium will be manufactured there. Complexes will also provide a great number of jobs. That way other productions will also raise game”, - said the Director of the National Energy Institute Sergey Pravosudov.

Another substantial issue of the negotiations is military and technical cooperation. If several years ago it was primarily relevant for small arms weapon, today it involves high-tech projects. "Such collaboration is relevant for the Navy and Air Force in a first place. In particular, the supply of aircraft engines is currently important for China. Russia could supply anti-aircraft weapon system S-400 to China”, - said director of NGO “Center for Public Policy Research” Vladimir Yevseyev.

In addition to key market players of the two countries, the negotiations will affect the sphere of small and medium enterprises. Scheduled activities in Shanghai will be attended not only by the public but also by private sector companies. “At this point we address the problem of finding interested representatives of small and midsize business, to understand their expectations over deepening and further strengthening of the relations with China. At the same time we want to create for them the opportunities to work in the country. Since many business enterprises have already embarked in this market”, - said the Chairman of the Committee for Economic Integration of the SCO and CIS Vladimir Salamatov.

Another considerable matter, which may affect the negotiators, is infrastructure. For example, four thousand kilometers of the Russian-Chinese borderline run along riverbeds of the Ussuri River and the Amur yet there is not one single bridge.
For more information on this article, please contact Yulia S. Ivanova, WTC Moscow, at YSIvanova@wtcmoscow.ru.