10/16/2026
According to the Russian Maritime Council, the two sides discussed the possibility of Chinese shipyards becoming technological partners and equipment suppliers for new shipbuilding facilities in Russia.
Moscow/Beijing – Russia intends to expand cooperation with China in the shipbuilding sector through technological partnerships, equipment supplies, and joint investments. Nikolai Patrushev, advisor to President Vladimir Putin and chairman of the Russian Maritime Council, made this statement during a six-day visit to China that began on October 8.
Patrushev held talks in Beijing with Ke Jixin, China’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Information Technology. According to a statement from the Russian Maritime Council, the two sides discussed the possibility of Chinese shipyards becoming technological partners and equipment suppliers for new shipbuilding facilities in Russia. Promotion of joint basic and applied research in the maritime sector and the application of the latest information technologies to shipbuilding were also discussed.
The visit, which focused on maritime cooperation, began in Shanghai, where Patrushev inspected the Waigaoqiao shipyard (one of China’s largest), Jiao Tong University, and the port of Yangshan. On that occasion, he acknowledged that bilateral collaboration in shipbuilding is currently “rather limited,” but emphasized the broad potential for development. Among the options put forward was the joint construction, in Russian shipyards, of a series of ice-class ships, including those intended for Chinese commercial shipping in the Arctic.
Patrushev linked these prospects to Moscow’s development of a trans-Arctic transport corridor, aimed at making polar routes more attractive and safe. The topics of university and scientific cooperation for the training of specialized personnel and the possibility of joint investments in Russian port infrastructure were also discussed. The same information emerged from Chinese, Russian, and international sources who followed the mission.