“A Giant Tree” for Northeast China: Russia in Modern Development Strategies of the Chinese Region

29
DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2025-69-12-109-121
EDN: ZTBCLX
Viktor Larin,
ORCID 0000-0002-2825-8391, larin.vic@gmail.com
Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Peoples of the Far East, Far-Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 89, Pushkinskaya Str., Vladivostok, 690950, Russian Federation.
 

Received 07.07.2025. Revised 30.07.2025. Accepted 29.09.2025.

Acknowledgements. The reported study was funded by RFBR, project nî. 25-18-20055.


Abstract. The article is based on official Chinese materials and devoted to the northern vector of the modern China openness policy, which is implemented through the foreign economic activity of its northeastern territories – the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The author analyzes the officially announced strategic guidelines and development priorities of these territories, and the tools used for their implementation. Special attention is paid to free economic zones. The article studies their tasks and activities in these provinces, the construction the “openness infrastructure” to the North and along the borders, as well as some results of their foreign economic activity in the post-COVID period. A conclusion is made that the Communist party and government of China have not removed from their agenda the goal of “achieving new breakthroughs in the comprehensive revival of the region”, and one of the tools for this is to advance the level of its openness. Beijing continues to promote the concepts of the construction of “northern corridor” to enter the Eurasian space, as well as the attracting the natural resources, transport, logistics and intellectual potential of the Pacific Russia not only to support the revival of the North-East of China but to give the convenient root for Chinese goods from the industrial East to Eurasian markets.

Keywords: Northeast China, Russia, development strategies, external relations


REFERENCES

1. Zhu Mang. After 20 years of silence, Northeast China’s economy is reviving thanks to Russia. Financial Gossip Girl, 01.07.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.jinrongbaguanv.com/article/details.html?id=127611 (accessed 21.04.2025).

2. Baklanov P.Ya., Larin V.L. Far Eastern Regions of RF in Modern Russian-Chinese Cooperation. World Economy and International Relations, 2023, vol. 67, no. 6, pp. 5-16. (In Russ.) Available at: https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2023-67-6-5-16

3. Larin V.L. Russia in the Plans and Programs of PRC Border Regions. World Economy and International Relations, 2021, vol. 65, no. 12, pp. 5-14. (In Russ.) Available at: https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2021-65-12-5-14

4. Larin V.L. Russia in Focus of the Belt and Road Initiative: Ideas, Plans, and Results. The Great Chinese Enterprise: On the Tenth Anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Collective monograph. Moscow–Vladivostok–Saint Petersburg, Rus Publishing House, 2024, pp. 94-123. (In Russ.)

5. Chen Xianliang, Gao Yuhan. Current situation, problems, and countermeasures of economic and trade cooperation between Heilongjiang Province and Russia. Siberian Studies, 2024, vol. 51, no. 6, ðð. 5-16. (In Chin.)


SOURCES

1. The seventh census of each province. Red and Black Population Database. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.hongheiku.com/ (accessed 29.09.2025).

2. 2025 Jilin Provincial Government Work Report. Jilin Provincial Government, 14.01.2025. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.jl.gov.cn/zcxx/gzbg/202501/t20250117_3356955.html (accessed 29.09.2025).

3. Red and Black Statistical Bulletin Database – collects statistical bulletins of provinces, cities, and counties across the country. Statistical Bulletin of the People’s Republic of China on National Economic and Social Development in 2024, 28.02.2025. (In Chin.) Available at: https://tjgb.hongheiku.com/zgtjgb/57021.html (accessed 21.04.2025).

4. Opinions of the State Council on Promoting High-Quality Development of Inner Mongolia and Striving to Write a New Chapter of Chinese-Style Modernization. Opinions on struggling to write a new chapter of Chinese-style modernization. Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic, 16.10.2023. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202310/content_6909412.htm (accessed 21.04.2025).

5. Heilongjiang Province Land and Space Plan (2021–2035). The Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, 12.10.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202401/content_6925674.htm (accessed 21.04.2025).

6. Jilin Province Land and Space Plan (2021–2035). The Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, 01.12.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2024/issue_11086/202401/content_6924978.html (accessed 21.04.2025).

7. Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of Jilin Province and the Long-Term Goals for 2035. National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China, 03.2021. (In Chin.) Available at: http://xxgk.jl.gov.cn/szf/gkml/202103/W020210408374532246284.pdf (accessed 21.04.2025).

8. Liaoning Province’s 14th Five-Year Plan for Comprehensive Transportation Development. General Office of the People’s Government of Liaoning Province, 28.12.2021. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.ln.gov.cn/web/zwgkx/zfwj/szfbgtwj/zfwj2011_148489/9CAFDED512504323AD7E5CEBADE1FE47/index.shtml (accessed 21.04.2025).

9. Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Long-Term Goals for 2035. People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 07.02.2021. (In Chin.) Available at: http://www.nmg.gov.cn/zwgk/zfxxgk/zfxxgkml/202102/t20210210_887052.html (accessed 21.04.2025).

10. Heilongjiang Provincial Highway Network Plan (2023–2035). Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Transportation, January 2024. (In Chin.) Available at: https://jt.hlj.gov.cn/jt/c105171/202401/c00_31706045.shtml (accessed 29.09.2025).

11. 2024 Government Work Report. People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province, 31.01.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.hlj.gov.cn/hlj/szfgzbg/202401/c00_31792137.shtml (accessed 29.09.2025).

12. Heilongjiang Province’s Ports to Russia. Harbin Customs of the People’s Republic of China, 04.07.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: http://www.customs.gov.cn/harbin_customs/zw18/5967099/5967102/5969126/index.html (accessed 21.04.2025).

13. Planning outline of comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network in Heilongjiang Province. Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Transportation. (In Chin.) Available at: https://jt.hlj.gov.cn/jt/c105171/202202/c00_30225332.shtml (accessed 21.04.2025).

14. Notice of the General Office of the People’s Government of Jilin Province on Several Measures to Further Promote High-Level Open Development. People’s Government of Jilin Province, 06.02.2025. (In Chin.) Available at: https://xxgk.jl.gov.cn/szf/gkml/202502/t20250226_9066667.html (accessed 21.04.2025).

15. Notice of the State Council on Issuing the Overall Plan for the China (Liaoning) Pilot Free Trade Zone. Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, 13.03.2017. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2017/content_5186962.htm (accessed 21.04.2025).

16. Notice of the State Council on Issuing the Overall Plan for the Establishment of Six New Free Trade Pilot Zones. Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, 02.08.2019. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2019-08/26/content_5424522.htm (accessed 21.04.2025).

17. Regulations of the China (Heilongjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone. Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Commerce, 29.04.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: https://sswt.hlj.gov.cn/sswt/c103657/202404/c00_31730835.shtml (accessed 21.04.2025).

18. Heihe National Ecological Civilization Demonstration Zone Creation Plan (2024–2030). People’s Government of Heihe City, 28.05.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.heihe.gov.cn/hhs/c103095/202408/c11_301598.shtml (accessed 21.04.2025).

19. Heihe City National Land Space Master Plan (2021–2035). People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province, 23.05.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: https://hlj.gov.cn/hlj/c108379/202405/c00_31737202.shtml (accessed 21.04.2025).

20. Heilongjiang: Building a new highland for opening up to the north, with remarkable results in trade and investment. Xinliang Finance and Economics, 06.05.2025. (In Chin.) Available at: https://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/2025-05-06/doc-inevrkux0587351.shtml (accessed 21.05.2025).

21. Work report of Fuyuan Municipal Government. Fuyuan Municipal People’s Government, 09.01.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: http://www.hljfy.gov.cn/govinfo/contents/1157/31262.html (accessed 29.09.2025).

22. Changchun City Land Space Master Plan (2021–2035). The Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, 02.01.2025. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2025/issue_11826/202501/content_7001307.html (accessed 21.04.2025).

23. Implementation Opinions of the Jilin Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the People’s Government of Jilin Province on Deeply Implementing the “Outline for the Construction of a Transportation Powerhouse” for Building a High-quality Transportation Province. Jilin Provincial People’s Government, 02.06.2020. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.jl.gov.cn/gb/2020/zb_202012/jsy/202007/t20200713_7357230.html (accessed 21.04.2025).

24. 2025 Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Government Work Report. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Government, 15.01.2025. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.nmg.gov.cn/zwgk/zfggbg/zzq/202501/t20250123_2658993.html (accessed 21.04.2025).

25. The State Council’s reply on approving the establishment of comprehensive cross-border e-commerce pilot zones in 46 cities and regions including Xiongan New Area. The Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, 06.05.2020. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2020-05/06/content_5509163.htm (accessed 21.04.2025).

26. Heilongjiang builds a new high ground for opening up to the north. Harbin Customs of the People’s Republic of China, 18.02.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: http://www.customs.gov.cn/harbin_customs/sy202026/2889872/5724456/index.html (accessed 21.04.2025).

27. National Comprehensive Three-dimensional Transportation Network Planning Outline. Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, 24.02.2021. (In Chin.) Available at: http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2021-02/24/content_5588654.htm (accessed 21.04.2025).

28. Jilin Province Comprehensive Three-dimensional Transportation Network Planning Outline. People’s Daily Online, 24.01.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: http://jl.people.com.cn/n2/2024/0124/c349771-40724374.html (accessed 21.04.2025).

29. Comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network planning of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 09.2023. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.nmg.gov.cn/zwgk/zfxxgk/zfxxgkml/ghxx/zxgh/202310/P020231020599892542887.pdf (accessed 21.04.2025).

30. China-Russia overall trade monthly monitoring report (January-December 2024). Digital Economy Laboratory, University of International Business and Economics, 23.01.2025. (In Chin.) Available at: https://delab.uibe.edu.cn/docs/2025-02/6332ca47cfe7452793f515e17a5ae001.pdf (accessed 21.04.2025).

31. By 2024, the total value of our province’s import and export of goods will exceed 300 billion yuan. Harbin Customs of the People’s Republic of China, 15.02.2025. (In Chin.) Available at: http://harbin.customs.gov.cn/harbin_customs/467892/467893/6349255/index.html (accessed 21.04.2025).

32. Trade between the three northeastern provinces and Russia: The road ahead. Petrochemical Industry Going Global Alliance, 31.08.2014. (In Chin.) Available at: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzI4MTEzOTMwNQ==&mid=2247678471&idx=1&sn=3e8970fda3f42495ad7a587b581d5939&chksm=ea2c56eccbfddcddbd39ca9eedaa91da196d5c6b0fb75aa254962cee8932a3b17a3e71b6f0ba&scene=27 (accessed 21.04.2025).

33. Country (Region) Guide for Overseas Investment Cooperation. Russia (2024 Edition). 119 ð. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/dl/gbdqzn/upload/eluosi.pdf (accessed 21.04.2025).

34. Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Promoting Chinese-style Modernization (adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on July 18, 2024. Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, 21.07.2024. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202407/content_6963770.htm (accessed 21.04.2025).

35. Opinions on Implementing the Strategy for the Enhancement of Free Trade Pilot Zones. Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, 21.04.2025. (In Chin.) Available at: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202504/content_7020179.htm (accessed 21.04.2025).


For citation:
Larin V. “A Giant Tree” for Northeast China: Russia in Modern Development Strategies of the Chinese Region. World Eñonomy and International Relations, 2025, vol. 69, no. 12, pp. 109–121. https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2025-69-12-109-121 EDN: ZTBCLX



Comments (0)

No comments

Add comment







Indexed

 

 

 

 

Dear authors! Please note that in the VAK List of peer-reviewed scientific journals, in which the main scientific results of dissertations for the degree of candidate and doctor of sciences should be published for the “MEMO Journal” the following specialties are recorded:
economic sciences:
5.2.5. World Economy.
5.2.1. Economic Theory
5.2.3. Regional and Branch Economics
political sciences:
5.5.4. International Relations
5.5.1. History and Theory of Politics
5.5.2. Political Institutions, Processes, Technologies

 

Current Issue
2025, vol. 69, No. 12
Topical Themes of the Issue:
  • BRICS+ vs G7: Economic Growth Efficiency
  • Arms Control: Down the Staircase Leading Up?
  • Global Energy Transition: Constraints and Opportunities for Russia
  • “A Giant Tree” for Northeast China: Russia in Modern Development Strategies of the Chinese Region
Announcement

Dear authors of the journal!

Please note that the author's copies of the issues in which your texts are published are kept in the editorial office for no more than one year. After this period expires, the editorial office has the right to dispose of unclaimed copies at its own discretion.

Dear authors of the journal!

We would like to inform you that the materials proposed for publication in our journal must be submitted only through the form located on the journal website in the “Submit an article” section.

 

Submit an Article
INVITATION FOR PUBLICATION
The Editorial Board invites authors to write analytical articles on the following topics:
  • changes in the processes of globalization in modern conditions
  • formation of the new world order
  • shifts in civilization at the stage of transition to a digital society

The editors are also interested in publishing synthesis articles / scientific reviews revealing the main trends in the development of certain regions of the world - Latin America, Africa, South Asia, etc.