Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, December 15 /Xinhua/ — Russia's North Caucasus republics are committed to deepening cooperation with China in various fields, and Russia's recent introduction of a visa-free regime for Chinese citizens opens new opportunities for expanding tourism exchanges and exploring this unique region. This was stated by the leaders of the North Caucasus republics, who met with Xinhua correspondents as part of the "This is the Caucasus" press tour organized by TASS.
Sergey Menyailo, Head of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, noted that Russia and China have a long history of relations. He stated that today, China boasts an advanced economy and cutting-edge technologies, making the development of mutually beneficial cooperation with the PRC of great interest. "We are very impressed with China's foreign policy position, which aligns with Russia's foreign policy. China is a great power, and its economy has advanced significantly. Therefore, we are happy to discuss these projects and hope that we will eventually implement them, but this requires greater commitment from the Chinese side," the head of the region emphasized.
A striking example of North Ossetia's cooperation with China is the construction of the all-season mountain tourism and recreation complex "Mamison." The complex is located on the picturesque slopes of the Mamison Gorge, through which one of the branches of the Great Silk Road passed. China provided equipment and technology for the construction of cable cars at the resort.
According to S. Menyailo, Mamison has no analogues in Russia. "When it reaches full capacity, it will be a very good ski resort. We are also considering spa treatment. Mamison has eight mineral water springs. All of them are therapeutic and have different properties," the head of North Ossetia said, inviting tourists from China to the new resort.
Rustam Tapaev, Deputy General Director of Kavkaz.RF, emphasized that Mamison is the first resort built jointly with Chinese partners, and this experience has been deemed a great success. He expressed hope that Chinese tourists will visit the resort. "We are ready to adapt as much as possible to the needs of Chinese tourists. This applies to accommodations, food, and other services. Therefore, we will wait and, I believe, within a year we will be able to prepare all the services so that our Chinese friends can comfortably come here," Tapaev added.
The head of the Republic of Ingushetia, Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov, shared his expectations for developing cooperation with China with a Xinhua correspondent. "Interaction with China is very important to us. I hope that flights from Chinese cities will begin flying to our airport, because we need to come, see, and negotiate," he said.
The head of Ingushetia emphasized that the republic places great emphasis on developing tourism and preserving its natural, historical, and cultural heritage. Today, Ingushetia is rightfully considered an open-air museum. Thirty-four routes are open to tourists, and the region's symbol—ancient stone towers—is known beyond the North Caucasus. "To date, we have reconstructed 180 towers, and a total of 220 tower complexes will be restored," said M.-A. Kalimatov. He particularly praised the hospitality of the Ingush people and invited Chinese tourists to visit the republic to see it for themselves.
According to Akhmed Dudayev, assistant to the head of the Chechen Republic and the republic's Minister for National Policy, External Relations, Press, and Information, Chechnya and China currently cooperate in many areas, including economics and other spheres. He expressed hope that, thanks to Russia's introduction of a visa-free regime for Chinese citizens, more Chinese tourists will be able to visit Chechnya and discover the republic for themselves.
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