On March 26, the BRICS Economic and Trade Industry Cooperation Exchange and Promotion Conference took place in Xiamen. During the event, the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free-Trade Zone and the Russian Great Serpukhov Special Economic Zone jointly launched a "dual-zone" cooperative initiative, aiming to propel Sino-Russian strategic collaboration towards enterprise-driven and industrial development, thereby driving BRICS-led growth in the global industrial chain.

Xiamen has maintained long-standing ties with Russia. During the 2017 BRICS Summit in Xiamen, the BRICS Leaders Xiamen Declaration was issued, enhancing the shipping routes between Xiamen Port and Russia's Far East ports. The China-Europe freight trains, known as the "Steel Camel Fleet", traverse the Eurasian continent, forging a close connection between Russia and Xiamen.

This "dual-zone" cooperative initiative represents an innovative breakthrough within the BRICS framework. The Great Serpukhov Special Economic Zone is a high-tech industrial hub that Russia is prioritizing for development. It seeks to offer a dual-engine growth platform of "investment + innovation" for global enterprises. The Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free-Trade Zone features a robust port network, a digitalized economic system, and an international business environment. These strengths complement the scientific research capabilities and industrial resources of the Great Serpukhov Special Economic Zone.

The BRICS PartNIR (Partnership on New Industrial Revolution) Innovation Center has created a national-level cooperation platform for the "dual-zone" cooperative initiative. The two parties will concentrate on deep collaboration in high-tech industries such as IT, electronics, and biotechnology, working together to remove barriers to the flow of essential elements like energy, talent, and capital. The Maritime Silk Road International Legal and Commercial Service Base, established by the Pilot Free Trade Zone of the Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District, is set to offer robust legal support for future collaborations.

Andrei Zhuravlev, Director of the Great Serpukhov Special Economic Zone, Russia, stated that the cooperative initiative between their economic zone and the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free-Trade Zone will offer "one-stop" services to empower Russian and Chinese enterprises in high-tech industry connections, joint supply chain development, and mutual investments. This initiative will help maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains among BRICS countries and promote trade and economic exchanges. Next, their economic zone plans to establish a representative office in the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free-Trade Zone to advance and implement the "dual-zone" cooperative initiative.

At the Promotion Conference, the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free-Trade Zone Administrative Committee, the Great Serpukhov Special Economic Zone, and the Institute for Digital Economy & Artificial Systems, BRICS PartNIR jointly signed a tripartite memorandum of cooperation. The memorandum explicitly outlines that the "two zones" will enhance cooperation in areas such as joint technology research and development, digital trade, and low-carbon industries, and will establish a regular communication mechanism. The head of the Leading Group Office of BRICS PartNIR Innovation Center stated that this initiative marks the beginning of a new phase of institutionalized and long-term interaction between the "two zones", offering a replicable "Xiamen model" for economic and trade cooperation among BRICS countries.

Translated by Fujian Investment Promotion Center