Spotlight: Russian experts expect Putin's visit to China to be fruitful

Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China on June 25, which experts say could better coordinate the development projects of both countries.

Sergey Sanakoev, president of the Russian-Chinese Analytical Center, told Xinhua recently that he expects to hear more about the "integration of integrations," namely the pairing of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

"This means that our countries are ready to develop transport infrastructure in the vast territory of Eurasia, which includes major energy projects, increasing investment cooperation, as well as the possible creation in Russia of new industries for future sale," Sanakoev said.

He noted that Putin's visit is politically important as regular exchanges at the highest level show a willingness to maintain solid ties.

"This visit has a symbolic character...I believe the parties will emphasize the similar positions of both countries on key international issues," Sanakoev added.

The expert suggested that besides energy cooperation, Russia should attract more Chinese companies in fields like high-tech, agriculture, tourism and the food industry, considering that production costs in Russia have becomes lower than that in China due to the devaluation of Russian currency.

Alexey Maslov, head of the Oriental Studies Department at the Russian Higher School of Economics Research, said Russia-China ties could transform into "a fundamentally new level of interaction."

"Now Russia itself offers a range of products, which it can sell in the Chinese market or produce together with China," Maslov specified.

"Russia, especially at the end of 2015 began to develop export plans focused on the Chinese market," he said.

Currently the Russian side is focused more on supplying agricultural goods to China, while more detailed negotiations are needed for more Russian products to enter the Chinese market, Maslov said.

Moreover, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have plenty of chances to interact, and there's opportunity in the development of Russia's Far East as well as in e-commerce, according to the expert.

Maslov mentioned that it is normal for Russian-Chinese cooperation to decline somehow as both countries are restructuring their economies.

"If both countries address restructuring issues competently," Maslov said, "then new channels for cooperation will immediately open." Endi