Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09VLADIVOSTOK51
2009-04-17 07:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Vladivostok
Cable title:  

FEWER RUSSIANS MAKING CROSS-RIVER TRIP TO CHINA

Tags:  ECON PGOV RS 
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VZCZCXRO2192
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDBU RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHLN RUEHNAG RUEHPB RUEHPOD
RUEHYG
DE RUEHVK #0051 1070706
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170706Z APR 09
FM AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1124
INFO RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION COLLECTIVE
RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 0333
RUEHVK/AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 1227
UNCLAS VLADIVOSTOK 000051 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV RS
SUBJECT: FEWER RUSSIANS MAKING CROSS-RIVER TRIP TO CHINA

REF: VLADIVOSTOK 034

UNCLAS VLADIVOSTOK 000051

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV RS
SUBJECT: FEWER RUSSIANS MAKING CROSS-RIVER TRIP TO CHINA

REF: VLADIVOSTOK 034


1. During a trip to Blagoveshchensk on the Amur River border
with China, two mission Russia FSNs -- one from Vladivostok and
one from Moscow -- made a boat trip to Heihe, China to observe
cross-border traffic. The excursion provided a unique
opportunity to report on activity there, since diplomats are not
permitted to make the trip. Though the city of Heihe is visible
across the banks of the river from Blagoveshchensk, there was
surprisingly little passenger traffic between the two.


2. The city of Heihe, China (population 113,000) is clearly
visible from the banks of the Amur River in Blagoveshchensk
(219,000),and could easily be reached by foot on the frozen
river. Getting there is relatively easy. First, passengers are
required to pay a port service fee of 800 rubles (USD 23) at the
boat terminal. Passengers then choose their method of
transportation, though not all are available year round. For
this trip, which was taking place during the spring thaw, the
only means of transport capable of crossing the weakened ice and
patches of open water was an 18-seat Puma-type hovercraft.
During winter when the river is completely frozen, buses are
available, and when the river is completely thawed during the
warm months, a traditional passenger vessel is used. The price
for a round trip journey on the Puma, which takes just a few
minutes, was 600 rubles (USD 18). The other modes are less
expensive.


3. Diplomats are not permitted to cross into China by road or
boat, but visa requirements for local residents are relatively
easy. Individual travelers who are residents of Blagoveshchensk
and parts of Amur Oblast, or groups of five or more Russians are
permitted to make the trip to Heihe and its immediate
surroundings without a visa. Other individual Russian citizens
require visas to visit the city of Heihe proper, but are
permitted to visit a smaller island in the Amur just outside of
Heihe without visas provided they do not spend the night there.
The Puma and other modes of transport stop at the island, from
which those who meet visa requirements can cross a pedestrian
bridge to the city. The FSNs stayed on the island, which has
two large shopping centers packed with Chinese goods catering to
Russian shoppers, and several restaurants mostly populated by
locals.


4. Business at the river border station was surprisingly slow.
Only about ten Russians made the trip to the island, and about
forty Russians and a handful of Chinese went to the city.
Locals in Blagoveshchensk reported that the number of Russians
bound for China has dropped considerably in recent months, down
from 5,000 people per day on weekends to about 50 per day. In
the past, traffic was so frequent on the river that it would
take several hours for travelers to pass through customs upon
return to Russia. For this excursion, border formalities lasted
just a few minutes.


5. Though the general economic downturn certainly plays a role
in the slowdown, recent Russian government policies are also to
blame. First, the recent increase of import fees for used
Japanese cars has severely hurt a significant segment of the
Amur region which relied on the trade. Perhaps more important
is the crackdown on 'pomogaiki' (reftel) who receive subsidized
trips to China from Russia-based retailers in return for
carrying goods back for resale. Customs officials initiated the
crackdown saying that these compensated traders violated rules
that allow travelers to import goods duty-free for personal use,
not for resale. Being a pomogaika is often the only source of
income for rural residents near the border and they made up a
large proportion of the cross-border traffic.

Comment


6. Considering the proximity of Russian and Chinese population
centers along the border, there is surprisingly little traffic
between them. Though there was a significant amount of shuttle
trading while the economy was in better health, most of the
exchange along the border is small-scale. Private vehicles are
not allowed to cross the border and there are no bridges -- even
for pedestrians -- directly connecting population centers across
the river. The situation highlights the arm's length approach
that authorities from both sides are taking towards their
neighbors on the other side.

ARMBRUSTER