During the Eastern Economic Forum, the Zabaykalsky Grain Terminal was launched, opening up new prospects for trade in agricultural products between Russia and China. However, according to Yuri Trutnev, the Vice Prime Minister and Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation, the terminal's operations are currently facing obstacles. In particular, issues are related to cargo processing and measures to combat COVID-19.
Trutnev emphasized that effective work and control by the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) and customs are necessary for the functioning of the new grain terminal. The level of cooperation between the countries in this area needs to be improved.
In his speech, Trutnev called on the Deputy Prime Minister of China, Hu Chunhua, to consider the possibility of accelerating work from the Chinese side.
Trutnev believes that Russia and China have great potential for cooperation in agriculture. He noted that Russia is ready to increase the export of agricultural products to the Chinese market, paying special attention to the "New Land Corridor Russia - China" project, which includes the Zabaykalsky Grain Terminal. The terminal will be able to store and transship grain crops delivered to China, thereby increasing the speed of cargo delivery.
The Zabaykalsky Grain Terminal, also known as the first specialized railway terminal and the largest grain logistics facility in Russia, was launched on September 6. The project attracted investments of 9 billion rubles, all of which were raised from private sources. One of the main tasks of the terminal is to solve the problem of different track gauges between Russia and China in grain transportation. The terminal also provides full traceability of grain.
The company "New Land Corridor," which owns the Zabaykalsky Grain Terminal, is 65% owned by CJSC "RVM Capital Management Company."