Russian-Chinese relations at the present stage: new horizons for cooperation in light of the decisions of the 4th Plenum of the CPC Central Committee

The delegation of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), led by Viktor Tsarikhin, a member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPRF, concluded its six-day work in China.

The visit's program, filled with important political and economic meetings, clearly demonstrated the depth and dynamism of interparty cooperation. The key event of the sixth day was a meeting with Li Hongjun, Secretary of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee and member of the CPC Standing Committee of Jiangxi Province, during which the results of the recently concluded Fourth Plenary Session of the CPC Central Committee were discussed, among other things. This direct involvement in the process of understanding key decisions determining China's future underscores that Russian communists are not simply observing, but are actively participating in the dialogue.

The working visit culminated in the delegation's completion of training at the China Academy for the Training of Party Cadres under the leadership of Vice-Rector Chen Jisheng.

Furthermore, a tour of the party organization at the Jiangling Automobile Plant allowed for a hands-on study of advanced mechanisms for integrating party building and economic development, providing invaluable experience for potential application in Russia. This visit continues the tradition of active inter-party exchanges enshrined in the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Central Committees of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which serves as the institutional foundation for joint work.

Strategic guidelines: cooperation in the context of the decisions of the Fourth Plenary Session of the CPC Central Committee

In October 2025, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee concluded in Beijing, approving key areas of China's socioeconomic development for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). China's new priorities open up additional opportunities for deepening the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership.

The plenum set the goal of strengthening technological independence and modernizing the industrial system. This creates fertile ground for expanding cooperation in areas such as new energy, aerospace, low-altitude economics, quantum technologies, biomanufacturing, brain-computer interfaces, and artificial intelligence. Existing collaboration in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and space is receiving a powerful boost for further development through joint research and development.

China plans to expand the opening of its market to foreign capital, take effective measures to address the challenges facing foreign companies, and stimulate domestic consumption. For Russia, this means the opportunity to further diversify its exports, increasing supplies of not only raw materials but also high-tech products, as well as participating in the creation of joint production clusters. As Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao stated, China intends to "transform the vast Chinese market into a global testing ground, an application hub, and a profit center for innovation."

One of the priorities is the balanced development of regions, including a focus on the environment ("green development corridors" – the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers). The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Greater Bay Area were identified as key growth drivers. The accumulated experience of the Russian-Chinese "Far East – Northeast China" and "Volga-Yangtze" formats is becoming even more relevant and can be expanded through new "green" and infrastructure projects.

• Table: Areas of cooperation between Russia and China in light of the decisions of the IV Plenum of the CPC Central Committee

In recent years, the process of deepening cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China has intensified. Amid increasing pressure from the collective West, strengthening Russian-Chinese cooperation in the financial and economic spheres is becoming increasingly crucial.

Large-scale projects are being implemented in the fuel and energy sector, such as Yamal LNG, Power of Siberia, and Arctic LNG 2. Both countries are focusing on ensuring uninterrupted production and energy supplies in the Arctic. The development of the Northern Sea Route, which offers an alternative to traditional routes for Russian energy supplies to China and other countries in Northeast Asia, is of particular importance.

However, cooperation is not limited to the resource extraction industries. Cooperation in the agro-industrial complex is actively developing. Projects to introduce popular Chinese crops, such as rice and soybeans, are being implemented in Russia's southern regions and the Far East. Chinese agricultural machinery is also being supplied to Russia. Russia, in turn, has become the largest exporter of peas to China, accounting for 49.1% of this market.

Russia and China currently intend to expand their joint projects to most economic sectors. In September 2025, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced the creation of new joint structures, including a trade, economic, and cultural center in Beijing, a fund to support technological cooperation, and an organization to facilitate Russian companies' entry into the Chinese market.

Inter-party dialogue: from sharing experiences to joint action

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) is committed to promoting Russian-Chinese cooperation. Russian and Chinese communists regularly exchange experiences within the framework of the Memorandum. Significant attention is paid to studying China's reform experience, its socioeconomic system, and its political structure, with the goal of potentially adapting China's most successful achievements to Russia.

Back in September 2025, a delegation from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), led by D.G. Novikov, Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, visited China. During meetings with students from leading universities and participating in academic conferences, the delegation thoroughly studied China's economic development trends. In mid-October of this year, Yury Afonin, First Deputy Chairman of the CPRF Central Committee, visited Shenzhen, one of China's main industrial centers, to study and analyze the creative potential of modern Chinese socialism.

A solid foundation for Russian-Chinese rapprochement, reinforced by Beijing's new strategic guidelines and deepening inter-party dialogue, serves as the foundation for the emergence of a multipolar world. Continued interaction, both at the state and inter-party levels, guarantees security and stability amidst international turbulence. The Communist Party of the Russian Federation is systematically working to study and adapt the creative experience of Chinese modernization, the relevance of which for Russia has increased exponentially since the Fourth Plenary Session of the CPC Central Committee.