Russia and China strengthen freight ties with new multimodal shipping deal

A new strategic partnership has been formed to boost freight transport between Russia and China. Astafiev Terminal and Logoper signed an agreement to develop multimodal shipping along the East-West route. The deal comes as trade volumes between the two countries continue to grow steadily. The first shipment under this agreement arrived on the vessel Yuan Rui Ji Yun, carrying 988 containers of general cargo from China. The containers were unloaded at Nakhodka’s Astafiev Terminal at a rate of 30 per hour. They are now being prepared for onward rail transport to central Russia.

The agreement was officially signed by Ruslan Kondratov, President of Aqua-Resources Group, and Alexander Kakhidze, Head of Fininvest Group. Kondratov highlighted that the partnership reinforces Nakhodka’s role as a major logistics hub in the Far East. Both companies aim to speed up cargo deliveries and build long-term cooperation. The collaboration also supports broader economic ties between Russia and China. With bilateral trade expanding, the new route is expected to handle increasing freight volumes efficiently.

The arrival of the first shipment marks the start of a more connected trade corridor. Faster cargo movement and improved logistics will help meet rising demand between the two nations. The partnership sets a foundation for future growth in cross-border freight operations.