Likhachev affirmed, “Russia and China are making ambitious plans to at least double the total cargo traffic volume along the Northern Sea Route by 2030, but something tells me we will achieve these figures much earlier.”

The two countries are currently debating an agreement in Beijing on new targets for developing the Northern Sea Route.

He stated that interest in the Arctic route has grown significantly in the last few months, and the demand for the Northern Route and Russia’s international transit services has increased due to difficulties on traditional southern routes.

Likhachev also spoke about Moscow and Beijing’s ambitious joint plans for developing Arctic shipbuilding.

Russian and Chinese delegations approved, in 2025, an action plan for the development of transport along the Northern Sea Route.

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