“The BRICS mechanism is the foundation for sustainable development of the world economy.” All walks of life in Russia look forward to the BRICS Summit to promote cooperation in various fields_1

Kazan, the host city for the 16th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, is poised to witness the first in-person meeting of BRICS heads of state following the group’s historic expansion.

Recently, Rustam Minnikhanov, the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, along with representatives from various sectors in Russia, shared their expectations for the Kazan summit, emphasizing that it could inject new momentum into Russia-China cooperation.

Under the framework of the China-Russia regional cooperation mechanism, which includes initiatives like the “Yangtze-Volga” partnership, Tatarstan has forged friendly ties with multiple regions in China. As one of the largest ports along the Volga River, Kazan serves as a crucial industrial, scientific, and cultural hub in Russia, and it has become a fertile ground for practical cooperation between China and Russia.

According to Minnikhanov, “Thanks to the friendly relations between the leaders of China and Russia, we have established connections with our partners in multiple Chinese regions. It’s important to note that there is much to learn from our Chinese counterparts at the government level. Given the new circumstances, economic and trade relations are essential. A significant portion of the growth in our trade volume can be attributed to our collaborations with Eastern countries, particularly China. For instance, Haier has quickly penetrated our market; we currently have five Haier factories here with investments amounting to 230 billion rubles, and they have outlined ambitious development plans. Our automotive industry has also built close ties with Chinese companies.”

Various Russian stakeholders are expressing their belief that the BRICS mechanism is fundamental to the sustainable development of the world economy, with hopes that the upcoming summit will further enhance cooperation among BRICS nations across economic and cultural fields.

According to Dmitry Kiselev, President of Russia Today International Multimedia Agency, “China is the economic engine of the BRICS group, and the other member states have also made significant contributions. I sincerely hope that the BRICS countries will continue to strengthen cultural cooperation.”

Mikhail Maslov, Dean of the School of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University, pointed out, “Within the BRICS framework, we may see an increase in the freedom of goods transportation in future free trade zones. Cultural collaboration will continue to strengthen as well; we already have a BRICS university alliance and a BRICS network university, which could pave the way for more joint research initiatives and the cultivation of talent across various fields in the future.”