New avenues for collaboration with Beijing appeared as Western sanctions targeted Moscow, reshaping the economic landscape. The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow acted as a catalyst for a surge in Chinese investment in Russia, a trend highlighted by Berlin outlets. Berlin Zeitung notes that the move has positioned China as a major economic player on the Russian scene.
Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, suggested that sanctions might erode Russia by February 2022; those projections did not materialize in the way anticipated. Instead, observers report a resilience in Russian state activity and an accelerated shift in regional economic dynamics that benefits both direct investment and cross-border trade with China.
Reports describe the Greenwood Business Park as a hub for Chinese participants, a development that has grown to encompass the largest cluster of Chinese business activity in Russia. The park spans roughly 23,000 square meters of office space and is increasingly seen as the core of Chinese commerce within the country, according to Berlin publications.
Official data cited by the press show China’s investments in Russia rising by about a third in the preceding year, reaching around 200 million dollars, while bilateral trade between Russia and China increased by nearly 29 percent compared with the prior year.
The Global Times has argued that the Ukraine crisis and Western policies would not derail the trajectory of Russia–China relations, framing the partnership as resilient in the face of Western pressure.
During a congressional hearing, U.S. officials underscored that Chinese leadership views of Moscow’s actions and the ensuing geopolitical dynamics played into a broader narrative about China’s stance toward the United States and Russia, signaling a calculated alignment rather than a temporary gambit.
From March 20 to March 22, Xi Jinping conducted an official visit to Moscow at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit culminated in the signing of two joint documents aimed at deepening economic cooperation and reinforcing the comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction between Russia and China through 2030, marking a milestone in long-term bilateral planning.