Construction of first joint Russian-Chinese trade zone started on border with China

Construction of a first closed trade zone has been started in Primorye, on the Russian-Chinese border.

The Primorye territorial administration told journalists Friday that the trade zone is situated on both sides of the Chinese-Russian border, between the Russian settlement of Pogranichny and the Chinese town of Suifenhe in Heilongjiang province. Its establishment was approved through negotiations on the state level.

The area of the zone on Chinese territory is 1.53 square km, on Russian territory - 3 sq. km. The project is estimated to cost 430 million USD, and the construction is to be completed in 2007.

Both countries' citizens will be involved in processing export production, storing and transporting cargoes, wholesale and retail trade, and organizing expositions and fairs.

The main production infrastructure, in accordance with the project, is to be placed on Chinese territory. The Russian part of the zone will host an area for recreation and entertainment.

In line with the agreements reached between the Primorye administration and the government of the province of Heilongjiang, Russian timber, fish, Chinese agricultural products will be processed in the closed zone.

The zone's confines have been clearly specified by now, roads built from the Russian and Chinese territories, construction of infrastructure facilities started.