Сargo turnover across the border between Russia and China near Khabarovsk may reach 1.3M tons by 2029

KHABAROVSK, Apr 29, 2021, Pan Pacific Agency. The annual cargo turnover of the cargo-passenger checkpoint on the Russia-China border on the Bolshoy Ussuriysky island may increase amount to 700,000 tons per year, if the checkpoint will opened, acting governor of the Khabarovsk Territory Mikhail Degtyarev said today speaking at the scientific-practical conference “East of Russia”. By 2029, according to a preliminary estimate confirmed by the Chinese side, cargo turnover may grow to 1.3 million tons, the official added.

“The government of the Khabarovsk Territory proposes to start developing the island in commercially attractive directions: launching a compact zone of business cooperation with opportunities for duty-free trade and cargo handling,” he said. “In addition, we propose the creation of a dry port on the root bank along the route of the bypass highway around Khabarovsk,” he added. The joint development of the island with the China should become a “powerful resource” for the development of the near Khabarovsk, Mikhail Degtyarev said.

Bolshoy Ussuriysky island was divided between Russia and China in 2005. Mikhail Degtyarev asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow the opening of a cargo-passenger checkpoint on the island at a meeting with Mr. Putin in February 2021. The head of state then asked for an economic justification for such an initiative.