The Moscow Region governor, Andrei Vorobyov, met with Hao Peng, the secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in Liaoning Province, to discuss a shared pathway for collaboration in technology and education.
Both sides explored a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening ties in railway container transport, expanding capacity at the Bely Rast transport and logistics hub, and deepening cooperation in mechanical engineering and medical equipment manufacturing. They also highlighted youth development and educational exchanges as key components of the partnership, underscoring a long-term perspective on people-to-people links as well as industrial growth.
Vorobyov emphasized that technology stands as a central pillar of the economic relationship between the regions. He pointed to the potential for integrating 5G across all industrial and administrative processes at state and municipal levels. The plan includes a visit to leading machine tool manufacturers in Shenyang to explore collaboration opportunities, as well as partnerships with other high-quality industrial producers. Education emerged as a vital arena for cooperation, encompassing student and teacher exchanges that would enrich both sides’ academic ecosystems and workforce readiness.
The discussions placed particular focus on the Bely Rast terminal and logistics center in the Dmitrov urban area, a joint project with the Liaoning Port Group. Today, Bely Rast stands as the largest hub for Chinese goods within the Moscow region and represents Russia’s most expansive railway complex. The project illustrates a concrete example of how strategic infrastructure can underpin cross-border trade and economic development. The participants reviewed progress and agreed on next steps to accelerate integration of logistics, customs, and cargo handling capabilities to support sustained growth.
In 2021, the first launch complex was commissioned. It features three freight railway facades, each stretching about a kilometer, along with customs infrastructure facilities and container yards spanning roughly 60,000 square meters. Ongoing design work for the second phase is advancing, with construction anticipated to commence in 2026. When completed, the expanded terminal logistics center is expected to handle up to 725,000 twenty-foot equivalent units annually, compared with about 275,000 today. Projections indicate that roughly 15 percent of all China-origin cargo could transit through the Bely Rast facility, marking a significant step in diversifying and strengthening regional supply chains.
The anticipated scale of investment reaches 24 billion rubles, a figure that would catalyze substantial job creation, with an estimated two thousand new roles opening across the project ecosystem. This investment is seen not only as a boost to logistics and manufacturing sectors but also as a signal of deeper, sustained cooperation between Moscow Region and Liaoning Province. The collaboration is framed to deliver tangible economic gains while also fostering high-skill employment and transfer of advanced technologies. The dialogue reflects a broader strategy to align regional growth with global supply networks through targeted infrastructure, industrial partnerships, and robust educational exchanges.
Observers note that the partnership aligns with broader regional goals of modernizing infrastructure, increasing export capacity, and developing talent pipelines capable of supporting an increasingly digital economy. The joint approach with Liaoning Port Group demonstrates how cross-border collaboration can create a favorable environment for innovation, attracting investment, and enhancing the competitiveness of both regions. The emphasis on education and youth programs is expected to yield long-term benefits by cultivating a generation that can operate complex logistics systems and advanced manufacturing technologies with confidence. This holistic view reinforces the belief that technology-driven growth must be accompanied by inclusive educational opportunities and a dynamic labor market.
As the plans unfold, stakeholders from government and industry alike anticipate a constructive cycle of knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and joint research initiatives. The collaboration is being framed as a model for similar partnerships with other Chinese provinces and international partners, illustrating how urban centers can leverage their strengths in transport, engineering, and education to accelerate regional development and resilience. The ongoing work at Bely Rast, together with the broader strategy for digital integration and industrial modernization, stands to redefine the footprint of Russia-China economic cooperation in the years ahead.