Along the Volga River lies the largest republic in the basin - the Republic of Tatarstan (hereinafter referred to as "Tatarstan"). From October 22nd to 24th last year, Kazan, the capital city, hosted the 16th BRICS Summit. This summit not only issued the "Kazan Declaration", but also witnessed the beginning of "BRICS Plus" cooperation. Ever since its establishment, the BRICS cooperation mechanism has established a multi-level framework in dozens of fields including economy and trade, science and technology, agriculture, culture, education, health, think tanks, and sister cities, promoting the growth of the world economy and the construction of friendly international relations.
During the meeting, the progress and potential investment opportunities of the nation's industry showcased at the “Made in Tatarstan” exhibition left a deep impression on every participant. The truck brand KAMAZ showed its latest products including the K5 long-distance truck, dump trucks, and buses, while the luxury vehicle brand Aurus attended with the models including Arsenal, Komendant, and Senat. Medical products also made an appearance, showcasing the exoskeletons used in rehabilitation scenarios and the Smart Ward that allows the patients to control various devices with their gaze.
"Made in Tatarstan" exhibition devoted to the BRICS summit
As an important part of the "BRICS Plus" cooperation, the connection between Tatarstan and China has constantly deepened with the former gaining more and more attention from Chinese people and investors. Going by the official figures, the number of Chinese students studying in Kazan is now more than 2,000, and the trade volume between the two countries rose to 3 billion US dollars in 2023, a significant increase from 2 billion US dollars in 2022. In September 2024, the first direct flight route between Shanghai and Kazan was officially launched, bringing new possibilities for cultural exchanges and economic cooperation between the two sides. A month later, the "Alabuga" special economic zone in Tatarstan sent its first container train loaded with agricultural products to China and brought back daily consumer goods such as household appliances from China.
Meanwhile, the "Kazan Declaration" further underlines the role of the New Development Bank in stimulating the potential of Tatarstan through financial means. As a founding member of the BRICS, China has been providing support and helped build the Shanghai headquarter for this international financial organization. Thanks to the efforts of all parties, in 2023, the fixed asset investment received by Tatarstan exceeded 1 trillion rubles for the first time. Taliya Minullina, the head of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency, also reported to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and shared Tatarstan's successful experience in attracting investment.
What's also worth mentioning is that the 2nd Russian-Chinese Forum titled "Sprouts: Russia and China·Mutually Beneficial Cooperation" was also held in Kazan from November 13th to 15th, 2024. Over 70 informative thematic seminars were carried out in diverse ways during the forum, creating a platform for direct dialogue and cooperation among enterprises from both countries. More than 10 thousand participants visited forum from 36 countries, including delegations from 71 regions of Russia and 27 administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China.
"The forum has promoted cooperation between the two sides in areas such as agriculture, economy and trade, mineral resources, and engineering technology, making it a successful platform, " said Taliya Minullina. “In 2025, we plan to hold the forum on August 18th and 19th. The dates not only meet the needs of many Chinese clients according to their own schedules, but also take account of Chinese culture's love for the number 8."
The 2nd Russian-Chinese Forum Titled "Sprouts: Russia and China·Mutually Beneficial Cooperation"
Disclaimer: The information in this publication is provided by the interviewees. It does not reflect the editorial opinions of Forbes China.
