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Yahoo
a day ago
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Global Times: Rail-born border city a living tapestry of China-Russia friendship with woven community life, cultural integration
BEIJING, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dubbed "a train-forged city," Suifenhe, located in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, was originally established in the late 19th century when Russians built train maintenance workshops and other facilities there following the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1903. Today, walking through this border city shaped by railroads and thriving through trade, one encounters a vibrant tapestry of Chinese-Russian culture - storefronts adorned with bilingual signs, candy-colored Russian architecture, clusters of foreign visitors, and local vendors fluent in both Chinese and Russian. A century later, the international waiting hall of the Suifenhe railway station bustles with activity. The cheerful voices of Russian study tour groups fill the air, while volunteers in blue vests, fluent in Russian bend down to patiently explain boarding rules to Russian children. From the roar of steam locomotives to the lightning speed of high-speed trains, railways have always been the lifeline of Suifenhe. The railways have breathed new life into the city, endowed it with endless vitality, promoted cultural and people-to-people exchanges, advanced its internationalization, and allowed advanced technologies and cultures to take root here. Iron threads of history "Suifenhe exists because of these rails - they symbolize the city's openness and progress," says Russian social media influencer Artem, a frequent traveler on the Suifenhe route who knows the city's history intimately. At No.38 Zhanqian Road stands the original Suifenhe Railway Station, its cream-and-yellow facade now housing the Chinese Eastern Railway Museum. Five hundred archival photos chronicle how railways transformed Suifenhe from a backwater town into a vibrant hub. The Chinese Eastern Railway was a branch of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Starting from Manzhouli in the west and ending at Suifenhe in the east, it formed a railway network with its southern branch from Harbin to Dalian's Lvshunkou, running horizontally and vertically. At that time, it was the longest railway within China's territory. When the railway opened, international flags fluttered everywhere across the city, earning Suifenhe another moniker: The "Flag Town." Suifenhe, also known as the "Window to East Asia," pioneered modernity in China's northeast region - its first trains, automobiles, electric lights, and telephones all arrived via these tracks. In 1987, Suifenhe and Russia's Pogranichny District launched cross-border trade with a symbolic exchange: 1,000 thermoses and 100 tons of apples for 30 tons of halibut and 50 tons of pollock. In the 1990s, both countries' peoples engaged in equal transactions and bartering at designated locations. The lively scene of every household setting up "stalls" on the streets, exchanging daily necessities such as snacks and toys for Russian leather goods, has become a vivid memory for many people in Suifenhe. As one of China's first group of border cities to expand opening-up, Suifenhe boasts two national first-class ports - road and rail - serving as a vital node in the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and a key port along the "eastern route" of the China-Europe Railway Express. The city's rail port now handles over 10 million tons of cargo annually, with nearly 900 train trips per year, according to local government. China-Europe freight trains departing here reach five European countries, while inbound trains serve 25 Chinese cities, cementing this border town's status as a genuine "international commercial hub." By the end of 2015, the railway route between Mudanjiang and Suifenhe was fully opened to traffic, ushering in Suifenhe's high-speed rail era. From steam locomotives to bullet trains, the railway has always been a driving force behind the city's vibrant development. "Trains now bring Russian tourists exploring Northeast Chinese cuisine and culture," says Artem, who promotes Suifenhe to his followers. "The new airport makes it even more accessible. The Russian-Chinese fusion here feels like home." Artem loves promoting Suifenhe's cultural and tourism highlights to Russian audiences on social media, with 220,000 followers. "Compared to my first trip here with my family 20 years ago, transportation is much more convenient now - they even opened an airport in 2024. Many Russian tourists take trains here to explore the food and culture of China's northeast region, and they always go home happy. The city's blend of Russian and Chinese charm makes everyone feel right at home." Cultural symphony of China-Russia harmony Throughout Suifenhe's urban areas and countryside stand numerous Russian-style buildings like Chinese Eastern Railway Museum. These structures preserve the architectural style of the early 20th century along the railway, serving as a "three-dimensional" testament to Suifenhe's urban development and the mutual exchange of Eastern and Western civilizations. Even more remarkably, this cultural fusion has found inheritors. Stepping into craftsman Song Lu's home in Honghualing village, Yongsheng town, Suifenhe, one is greeted by an array of Russian-style decor and ornaments - double doors in a 4:6 ratio, rustic cast-iron Russian stove doors, brightly colored kitchenware, and vividly patterned tapestries and carpets... In this brick-and-wood house, once inhabited by Chinese Eastern Railway employees, a load-bearing beam made from railway tracks spans the roof, and its clear Russian inscriptions seemingly pull history into the present. As a craftsman, Song holds a special legacy - a representative inheritor of the Heilongjiang provincial intangible cultural heritage of Russian-style carriage-making techniques. "When my grandfather went to Russia for business, he noticed that local four-wheeled carriages had large load capacities and steerable front wheels, making them much more agile than Chinese two-wheeled carriages. He learned the craft of building Russian four-wheeled carriages from a master there," Song explains while displaying a Russian-style cabinet he built."Grandfather brought the technique back to China, upgraded the Chinese two-wheeled carriage, and combined it with Chinese mortise-and-tenon joinery to make it more durable. Russian-designed wooden wheels have fewer curves, saving wood, but my grandfather used Chinese techniques to interlock the parts - no nails needed, yet still solid," Song told the Global Times. He noted that Chinese carpenters also made the carriage boards detachable, significantly increasing load capacity, stability, and ease of unloading, with replaceable accessories. The improved carriage quickly gained popularity locally. The craft was passed from grandfather to father, then to Song Lu. From childhood, he was immersed in Russian architecture and woodworking. Flipping through an old photo album of Suifenhe's history, he said fondly, "This was the street back then, and these are the Russian houses built along the railway. The wide eaves provided better wind protection and warmth, while the thick walls resisted moisture." In Song's workshop, the walls are lined with tools of all sizes, and large machines are arranged throughout - all his treasures for creation. "Preserving Suifenhe's Russian-style buildings requires original materials and techniques," he explained. As one of the few locals mastering these skills, he has participated in restoring century-old Russian landmarks and sculptures, as well as designing the local Russian cultural park. "Through the efforts, we hope to preserve more historical buildings that reflect cultural exchange and witness Suifenhe's development," he added. In Suifenhe, a century-old Russian bakery housed in a former Chinese Eastern Railway residence draws crowds even before entry with its rich wheat aroma wafting through the air. Owner Liu Lihua, a fifth-generation inheritor of this craft, recounts her family's bond with Russian breadmaking. During the railway's construction, Russian workers flooded into Suifenhe, bringing their culinary traditions. Rail authorities hired Russian chefs, spawning workshops for traditional staples like lieba (the Chinese transliteration of rye bread in Russian). Liu's great-grandfather, then a railway canteen helper, apprenticed under Russian baker Lucia - a mentorship immortalized by Lucia's portrait still displayed prominently in the shop. What began as homemade loaves for family gatherings grew into a neighborhood favorite, prompting Liu to open this bakery. Today, each golden-crusted lieba embodies Suifenhe's cultural blend - a daily delicacy for locals, and a living footnote about cross-border culinary exchange. Song of people-to-people exchanges The Suifenhe No.3 double-track railway tunnel, located 300 meters from the China-Russia railway border, was built in 1899. It is China's only "nested" double-track tunnel - one wide track for Russia and one standard track for China. For over a century, this tunnel has connected the Chinese and Russian peoples. In November 2023, Wang Xuehan, a student from Suifenhe No.1 High School, crossed this unique tunnel to stay with Lisa's family in Russia's Pogranichny. She participated in the "China-Russia student homestay exchange program" that the local government promoted annually. Lisa's family prepared fruits, seafood, and handmade gifts like bracelets and dolls, making Wang feel instantly at home. "I made Russian blini with my Russian classmates in a cooking class - we were covered in flour but laughed nonstop," she recalls to the Global Times. A simple hands-on lesson planted the seeds of friendship between the two nations. The following spring, the friendship continued in Suifenhe. Lisa and her sister Alina visited as promised, their suitcases filled with Russian specialties and heartfelt care. "They brought my favorite Russian candies and fresh shrimp," Wang recounted. Participating in school sports meets, playing traditional Chinese games, and experiencing paper-cutting... the trip left vivid memories for the sisters. Lisa wrote in Russian: "Every day in Suifenhe felt as warm as home." Today, the transnational friends still stay in touch. Since 2006, Suifenhe's homestay exchange program has seen over 400 participant exchanges. Annual events like the China-Russia international youth art festival and youth sports exchanges provide fertile ground for such friendships to grow. View original content: SOURCE Global Times Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
NDTV
17-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Russia, China Sign Agreement To Build Nuclear Power Station On Moon
China and Russia have signed a memorandum of cooperation to build an automated nuclear power station on the Moon by 2035. Russia's space agency Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) signed the document earlier this month, with the power station expected to be part of the proposed International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). "The station will conduct fundamental space research and test technology for long-term uncrewed operations of the ILRS, with the prospect of a human being's presence on the Moon," Roscosmos wrote in a May 8 announcement following the signing of the memorandum. First announced in 2017, ILRS includes involvement from countries such as Venezuela, Belarus, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Egypt, Nicaragua, Thailand, Serbia, Pakistan, Senegal and Kazakhstan. The IRLS is expected to be located within 100 kilometres of the lunar south pole and feature long-term autonomous operations and short-term human missions. "The station will conduct fundamental space research and test technology for long-term uncrewed operations of the ILRS, with the prospect of a human being's presence on the Moon," Roscosmos said in a statement. Yuri Borisov, the head of Roscosmos, last year stated that apart from the Chinese-Russian reactor, a nuclear-powered cargo spaceship was also under development. He said all the technical questions concerning the project had been solved, apart from finding a solution on how to cool the nuclear reactor. "We are indeed working on a space tugboat. This huge, cyclopean structure that would be able, thanks to a nuclear reactor and a high-power transport large cargoes from one orbit to another, collect space debris and engage in many other applications," Mr Borisov said. The announcement comes in the backdrop of NASA revealing a 2026 budget proposal that would axe the agency's plans for an orbital lunar base, dubbed Gateway and slated for launch in 2027. NASA's over-budget Space Launch System (SLS), a gigantic rocket built by Boeing and Northrop Grumman for the Artemis programme, could also cancelled after its third mission.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Putin, Xi to discuss delayed 'Power of Siberia 2' pipeline during Victory Day celebrations, Bloomberg reports
Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will discuss a long-delayed gas pipeline linking Russia and China when they meet in Moscow this week for Russia's Victory Day celebrations, Bloomberg reported on May 7. Construction of the pipeline, referred to as Power of Siberia 2, was scheduled to begin in 2024, but has been plagued with construction issues and diplomatic tussles. The proposed pipeline would strengthen Russia's ability to export gas to China, which is increasingly important for Russia as Europe declares its goal to fully sever the European Union's energy dependence on Moscow by 2027. The Power of Siberia 2 pipeline would give Moscow the ability to export 50 billion cubic meters a year, and give China the advantage of cheaper LNG imports. If completed, the 3,550-kilometer pipeline would connect Russia's Yamal Peninsula through Mongolia to China. But in January 2024, Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene said Russia and China had not agreed on key details and that construction would be delayed. In June it was reported that talks between Russia and China had reached a dead end as Beijing sought to exhort tough conditions on price and supply levels. According to Bloomberg, the economic strains being felt currently by both countries may be forcing them to settle their differences and move the project forward. Xi is one of 29 world leaders set to attend the Victory Day parade on May 7, according to the Kremlin, which added he would be there to "sign a number of bilateral inter-governmental and inter-departmental documents" to strengthen Chinese-Russian relations. Read also: Ukraine ramps up drone strikes on Moscow as Russian-friendly leaders set to attend Victory Day parade We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China's Xi to meet Putin, 'sign bilateral documents' during visit to Moscow for Victory Day celebrations
Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during Moscow's Victory Day celebrations between May 7-10 and "sign a number of bilateral inter-governmental and inter-departmental documents" to strengthen Chinese-Russian relations, the Kremlin announced on May 4. "The bilateral talks to be held during the visit will focus on the core aspects of further advancement of Russia-China relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, as well as pressing matters on the international and regional agendas," a statement from the Kremlin read. Pro-Kremlin media Interfax reported on Feb. 10 that Xi plans to visit Moscow on May 9. China has strengthened ties with Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, becoming Moscow's leading supplier of dual-use goods that bolster Russia's defense industry. While China has positioned itself as a potential mediator in the war, it has simultaneously criticized the U.S. and its allies for "exacerbating" the war by supplying weapons to Ukraine. NATO has labeled China a "decisive enabler" of Russia's aggression. Despite the criticism, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on April 17 that China is supplying weapons to the Russian military. His statement marks Kyiv's first confirmation that Beijing supports Russia's war effort by providing weapons. Kyiv also presented Beijing with evidence that Chinese citizens and companies have participated in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry reported on April 22. The Kremlin uses Victory Day celebrations for propaganda purposes, showcasing its military might and drawing on the Soviet victory in World War II to justify its aggression against Ukraine. On May 3, Zelensky said Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign officials planning to attend Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow, warning that any incidents on Russian territory fall solely under the Kremlin's control. 'Our position is very simple for all countries traveling to Russia on May 9: We cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,' Zelensky said during a briefing with journalists. Zelensky cautioned that Russia could orchestrate provocations, including 'arsons, explosions, or other actions,' and then attempt to blame Ukraine. He said Kyiv has advised visiting delegations accordingly. Read also: Ukraine shares evidence of Chinese citizens, companies involved in Russia's warWe've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Match made in heaven' — Why the US will fail to drive a wedge between Russia, China
It's no secret that U.S. officials have been trying to drive a wedge between Russia and its key ally, China. Former United States Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg was among the government officials who made the intention public, saying that the U.S. would try to "break (Vladimir) Putin's alliances." Kellogg was later demoted, with the word Russia removed from his job title. U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio echoed Kellogg's sentiment, saying that having a relationship with Russia would allow Moscow to be less dependent on China. Yet, the state secretary was a bit more realistic in his expectations. "I don't know if we'll ever be successful completely at peeling them off of a relationship with the Chinese," Rubio told far-right Breitbart News on Feb. 25. Dubbed the "reverse Kissinger" (or reverse Nixon), experts say the strategy envisions the U.S. playing on tensions between Moscow and Beijing. They also say it's a fundamentally flawed approach. For Russia and China, international law is "built in an unfair way, excluding China, Russia and other countries from decision-making on the international arena," Temur Umarov, a research fellow at the Berlin-based Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told the Kyiv Independent. "They think this system should be reformed, and they see themselves as alternative centers to Washington." This relationship is a "match made in heaven," he added. Read also: 'Conditions for Ukraine's surrender' — Why Putin's demands for ceasefire make no sense Decades ago, the United States embarked on a charm offensive in an attempt to capitalize on the Sino-Soviet split. Then President Richard Nixon's photogenic 1972 visit to China featured the U.S. leader exchanging warm smiles with Chinese tyrant Mao Zedong. This visit was far more than pictures. Spearheaded by then-State Secretary Henry Kissinger, these contacts helped warm relations between the U.S. and China, leaving the USSR isolated in the face of the new Chinese-American friendship. Sign up for our newsletter WTF is wrong with Russia? Sign up Fast forward to 2025, the question asked by experts worldwide is whether Donald Trump is trying to repeat Nixon's 1970s experiment the other way around — pulling a weaker Russia away from a much more powerful China. The answer to that question, for now, is a flat no. Five decades ago, the USSR and China were in the middle of a major split, culminating in armed combat across their border on the Amur River. In 2025, Russia and China show no signs of wanting to loosen their friendship. Like any relationship, the Chinese-Russian one is not perfect. One point of divergence, according to Brookings Institution researcher Patricia Kim, who spoke with the Kyiv Independent, is Russia's increasingly warm relations with North Korea. "(Pyongyang) is providing lethal assistance to Russia in its war against Ukraine in return for military technology assistance, which makes China nervous," Kim explained. Kim added that Beijing was also interested in acting as an intermediary in negotiations on the war in Ukraine, so direct contacts between Russia and the U.S. make China worried about being sidelined in the process. Links between Moscow and Beijing are, however, much stronger than any potential disagreements that the two sides could have. Beyond their anti-Western ideologies, Beijing and Moscow are strongly linked to one another through their economies, with Russia exporting oil, gas, and timber in exchange for Chinese manufactured goods. This interdependency grew especially after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine when the EU introduced sanctions on Russian gas. Three years on, the EU market remains closed, making Beijing one of the few major clients still available. "China appears satisfied with this arrangement," according to Callum Fraser, a research fellow at the London-based think tank RUSI, who spoke to the Kyiv Independent. "In fact, Beijing can take advantage of Russia's vulnerable position and negotiate discounts on gas," Fraser explained. As a result, China came to be the dominant player in this economic relationship, buying "as much gas as it needs," according to Fraser, but refusing Moscow's advances to sell more. Chinese leader Xi Jinping, for instance, did not agree to Putin's proposal to build a second leg of the existing Power of Siberia gas pipeline, which links the two countries. Russian-Chinese cooperation does not end with gas and oil exports. "China's military industry is based on Soviet-era technologies, and what Russia can provide is something which just fits into China's own military complex," Umarov told the Kyiv Independent. Aside from weapons exports, Russia has other technologies inherited from the Soviet Union, such as its nuclear industry. Prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia "didn't really want to share this know-how (with China), but now (Moscow) doesn't really have any other options" due to its international isolation, Umarov explained. Above the material component, the Russian-Chinese relationship is "driven by Beijing and Moscow's shared antipathy towards a 'Western-dominated' global order," Kim argued in turn. Read also: Putin's 'ceasefire' — Is Russia still attacking Ukraine? For now, it's "very unclear" what the Trump administration wants to achieve with regards to Russia, Fraser explained to the Kyiv Independent. "Trump wants to get a ceasefire in Ukraine, and he wants to capitalize on the strong relationship which he claims to have with Vladimir Putin, in order to make trade deals." In any case, any policy to weaken China is well perceived by the new U.S. administration, and warming relations with Russia is just one of the possible steps in this field, Fraser added. "President Trump clearly sees himself as the ultimate negotiator, and he's made it clear that he wants to strike deals with both Moscow and Beijing," Kim said. "But he has yet to articulate clear views on what precisely he hopes to achieve by talking with both." The issue with this approach is that China and Russia will not stop perceiving the U.S. as a threat anytime soon, regardless of Trump's views on NATO and American allies in Asia, Kim said. This means that the China-Russia partnership isn't likely to weaken anytime soon, as both sides see too much value in being close to one another. "Moscow doesn't want to be seen as sacrificing its relationship with China for the sake of being closer to the United States," Umarov said. "For Moscow, this relationship is a strategic interest, and there are many reasons why it's just unimaginable for Russia to turn its back on China." Structural problems in the U.S.-Russia relationship also make it hard to imagine the two countries seriously warming relations. The U.S. simply does not have any strategic, economic, military or political advantages to hand to Russia, at least in comparison with what China can offer, Fraser explained. One reason for this is that, unlike China, the U.S. does not need Russia's fossil fuel and other raw materials exports, as it can rely on its own reserves. "None of this is going to disappear just because Donald Trump is posting something which seems to be sympathetic or supportive of Russia's current interests in Ukraine," Umarov argued. Whatever the war's outcome, the success of an American "reverse Kissinger" strategy is doubtful. "People who are putting these thoughts into policy in the U.S. don't understand the current nature of the relationship between Moscow and Beijing," he added. Read also: Trump wants a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia – which side would gain more? We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
