Exclusive Interview | China Is a Reliable and Stable Partner — Interview with Alexander Kozhemiako, Governor of Russia's Primorsky Krai

Alexander Kozhemiako, Governor of Russia's Primorsky Krai, recently told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that China is a reliable and stable partner. Primorsky Krai is willing to deepen cooperation with China in equipment manufacturing, agricultural product deep processing, biomedicine, and other fields.

Primorsky Krai borders the Sea of Japan and is adjacent to China, North Korea, Japan, and other Asia-Pacific countries. Its capital, Vladivostok, serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of Russia's Far East.

Kozhemiako said that Primorsky Krai is a strategic hub in the Russian Far East, where numerous road, rail, and air routes converge. The region has five ice-free ports and advantages in logistics, shipbuilding, and seafood processing industries. The large ice-class LNG carrier “Aleksey Kosygin,” independently built by the Krasny Vostok Shipyard in Primorsky Krai, has completed its maiden voyage, traveling through the Northern Sea Route to Murmansk.

In recent years, Russia has actively promoted its “pivot to the East” strategy, developing cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries and even countries in the Global South. Kozhemiako said that Asia-Pacific economies are more stable than Western countries and have huge potential. Russia considers integration with Asia-Pacific nations a priority. Primorsky Krai is at the forefront of Russia's “pivot to the East,” aiming to maximize its potential and further integrate economically with neighboring Asia-Pacific countries.

Kozhemiako emphasized that cooperation with China is crucial. He noted that Primorsky Krai is connected to China via multiple border crossings, with over 50 flights per week. Russia is upgrading its border facilities to improve transit capacity. China has successfully implemented projects in Primorsky Krai in areas such as agricultural cultivation and construction, leaving a deep impression with high-quality work.

On January 1 this year, the International Advanced Development Zone system was officially launched in Russia's Far East, offering extensive incentives for foreign investors. Kozhemiako expressed his hope that Chinese investors will leverage this system to invest in shipbuilding and maintenance, building materials production, biomedicine, and biotechnology. “We always welcome Chinese investors to bring advanced technologies, establish production bases in Primorsky Krai, and sell products in Russia and abroad,” he said.

Regarding the planned China-Russia Agricultural Cooperation Pilot Demonstration Zone, Kozhemiako said it will be located at Sukhodol Port in Primorsky Krai and will use modern technology to process local agricultural raw materials, increasing product added value. The Primorsky Krai government fully supports the project.

Kozhemiako also highlighted that the local population is warm and friendly and holds a natural affinity for China. Many residents travel to Beijing or other Chinese cities on weekends for leisure. He suggested that Chinese tourists, in addition to enjoying natural scenery, should engage in cultural tourism. He hopes that Russian-Chinese cooperation in technology will allow Chinese tourists to book tickets and seats at Russian theaters, museums, and art galleries via Chinese online platforms.

Kozhemiako said that China has a highly developed domestic production and consumption system, demonstrating sustainable economic growth. By leveraging information technology and artificial intelligence, China has created effective digital platforms and networks, which facilitate communication and policy implementation — a model Russia can learn from and emulate.