Chinese tech-powered Russian logistics hub boosts BRICS trade flows

Powered by Chinese digital warehousing and automation systems, a logistics park in Russia's Alabuga Special Economic Zone is emerging as a key Eurasian logistics hub linking BRICS countries.

One of Russia's largest logistics hubs, the Tatarstan-based park broke ground in March 2023 and started operation a year later, timed to coincide with the 16th BRICS Leaders' Meeting in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan. Its launch added a new corridor for international logistics connectivity, especially among BRICS countries.

"We are exploring to include Vietnam into our export routes. We ship cargo to more than eight major cities in China, and also import goods from China. We are also studying the possibility of shipping goods from Turkey, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates," said Haidar Valiullin, executive director of the park.

The facility now operates six railway lines, can handle 8,000 containers simultaneously, with an annual throughput of more than 100,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Imports are mainly agricultural products, timber, and coconut products, while exports mainly range from consumer goods and electronics to automobiles.

The application of Chinese digital warehousing and route-planning systems, along with other Chinese equipment, has dramatically accelerated the park's cargo handling.

Crane operator Larisa Arsenyeva, with an industry experience of 20 years, said she was impressed the first time she worked with Chinese machinery.

"Everything is so well thought out. The equipment and security measures are all in place. It is practically impossible to make a mistake in operation, because there are security limits in place for everything here," she said.

A logistics warehouse launched this year is also equipped with a Chinese automated conveyor belt system, as well as Russia's first AI-driven automated shelving system, quadrupling cargo handling speed. Following the project plan, 17 such automated systems will be installed, with total warehousing space reaching 170,000 square meters.

"The system runs fully automatically. It places goods onto shelves, stores them, and knows exactly when to dispense it. If necessary, it can operate without any human intervention," said warehouse foreman Valentin Drozdov.

With BRICS economic and trade cooperation expanding in recent years, business at the park has surged, prompting plans of further expansion. A customs area of more than 23,000 square meters is under construction, along with an arrival-departure line capable of accommodating 10 trains at once.

"I feel like part of this big project. The company is growing, and I am growing with it," said crane operator Ainur Aisin.

"The influx of young talents makes me confident about the future," said train driver Hamid Sakaev.

Since its inception two decades ago, the BRICS cooperation mechanism has grown into a grouping of 11 full member states and 10 partner countries, together representing major emerging markets and developing economies across the globe.

Chinese tech-powered Russian logistics hub boosts BRICS trade flows

A Chinese envoy on Friday warned of emerging terrorism risks driven by the misuse of new technologies, urging the international community to enhance cooperation and eradicate the breeding grounds of terrorist activities.

Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to United Nations, made the remarks at a UN Security Council open briefing marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Prior to the meeting, attendees observed a moment of silence to mourn the victims of the September 11 attacks.

During the session, the Security Council issued a presidential statement reaffirming that terrorism remains one of the most severe threats to international peace and security. The statement also expressed deep concern over the exploitation of emerging technologies, including the internet, satellite communications, virtual assets, and drones, for terrorist purposes.

"Over the past 25 years, international counterterrorism cooperation has continued to deepen, and a global counterterrorism architecture with the United Nations at its core has gradually taken shape. Meanwhile, the threat of international terrorism persists, terrorist activities have become decentralized and fragmented, and emerging technologies are being misused for terrorist purposes," said Sun.

To address these technological risks, Sun called for refining global governance rules and regulatory frameworks, while enhancing capacity building for developing countries in utilizing new technologies to combat terrorism.

The Chinese envoy stressed that the international community must strengthen solidarity, uphold the UN's central coordinating role, and intensify crackdown on terrorist activities while eliminating their root causes.

"The Security Council should work to promote the political settlement of hotspot issues, resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation, and eliminate the breeding grounds for terrorism. At the same time, it should oppose the politicization and instrumentalization of counter-terrorism and avoid linking terrorism to any particular country, ethnicity or religion," said Sun.

He also called for strengthening border control, intelligence sharing, and joint counter-terrorism operations, and bolstering law enforcement and independent response capabilities of developing countries.

Sun said China will continue to actively participate in global counter-terrorism cooperation under frameworks such as the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS.

China will share its counter-terrorism experience and assist other countries in capacity-building, thereby playing a constructive role in advancing global counter-terrorism cooperation, said the Chinese envoy.

China warns of emerging terrorism risks, urges elimination of breeding grounds