Experts from China and Russia discussed logistics issues

On November 22, at the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, a round table was held on the topic “Improving the efficiency of checkpoints as a driver for the development of Russian-Chinese trade”. The event took place in a hybrid format, bringing together 30 in-person participants and 150 online. The event was organized by the RAUIE, together with the Presidential Commissioner for Entrepreneurs’ Rights, the Russian-Chinese Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development.

RAUIE initiated this agenda due to a large number of requests which RAUIE received from regional entrepreneurs asking for help in resolving the issue related to the low throughput of checkpoints between Russia and China.



Despite the fact that the departments of Russia and China are engaged in a dialogue on increasing the opening hours of checkpoints to increase cargo flows, the problem has not yet been resolved. Russian business complains about queues at checkpoints with China. Due to the sharply increased traffic volumes after the closure of many sea routes, many kilometers of traffic jams periodically occur at checkpoints. And this is due not only to the COVID-19 pandemic, this problem has been observed for more than 20 years, and will become even more relevant as the Blagoveshchensk-Heihe and Nizhneleninskoye-Tongjiang bridges are put into full operation.



Experts from the Russian Federation and China also spoke at the round table:

• Chairman of RAUIE Vitaly Mankevich 
• Yu Hongchi, Advisor for Trade and Economic Affairs of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation
• Deputy Head of FGKU "Rosgranstroy" Alexander Erokhin
• Deputy Director of the Department of Commerce of Heilongjiang Province, Head of the Office of Checkpoints of Heilongjiang Province of China Tan Yinghui
• Chairman of the Board of EYT Harbin JSC Liu Hanyuan
• Deputy General Manager of “HEILONGJIANG SHIPPING GROUP CO., LTD” Sun Yongmin
• Head of the Trans-Baikal branch of RAUIE Andrey Shelopugin 
• Managing partner of Akteon Strategy Consulting, head of a special project of the public affairs committee of the Russian Public Relations Association (RASO). Andrey Kinyakin 

Summarizing what was said at the meeting, it is important to emphasize that both the Chinese and Russian sides understand the need to modernize the checkpoints on the Russian-Chinese border. The parties put forward the following recommendations:

• expanding the storage and improving the efficiency of loading and unloading mechanisms 
• increase in the opening hours of checkpoints on the Russian-Chinese border (transfer to the round-the-clock operation of the automobile checkpoints Kraskino, Pogranichny, Poltavka, Turiy Rog and Zabaikalsk),
• prompt resumption of operation of the Olochi and Starotsurukhaytuysky checkpoints.
• expanding interaction between the Russian and Chinese sides on customs procedure unifying