From ancient trade routes to modern partnership—«Crimean Magazine (CM)» tells about the development of the peninsula's relations with the Middle Kingdom against the background of historical ties spanning two thousand years.
POLITICAL PIVOT
The modern stage of Crimea's relations with China began after the peninsula's reunification with Russia. In September 2023, Head of the Republic of Crimea Sergey Aksyonov held a meeting with a PRC delegation led by April-Media CEO Zhao Jin.
— President Putin often says that China is our brotherly state. We highly value your sincere desire to learn more about Crimean life, assess cooperation potential, and share this with Chinese society, Aksyonov stated, emphasizing that Crimean authorities are set for fruitful work and development of bilateral relations.
Zhao Jin noted that the Crimean agenda has not left Chinese news feeds for many years.
— Due to the information and ideological war waged by the West, our citizens don't have enough truthful information. Therefore, the purpose of our visit is to learn as much as possible about how Crimea lives, he stated.
On November 7, 2024, within the framework of the Yalta International Forum, a crucial document was signed—a declaration on creating a Crimean-Chinese coordination council for business cooperation between the Business and Cultural Center of the Republic of Crimea and the Chinese Business Council for Cooperation with Crimea.
— We will count on this bringing effect—economic, social, and political—for the development of Crimean-Chinese relations overall, commented Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Crimea to the President of the Russian Federation Georgy Muradov on the signing.
ECONOMIC PROSPECTS
Crimean enterprises are actively entering the Chinese market. At the Canton Fair in Guangzhou—one of China's largest trade exhibitions—the republic was represented by producers of cosmetics, tea, confectionery, and a grain company.
— Thanks to state support measures, Crimean enterprises were able to show their products at one of China's largest exhibitions. All of it is in demand today not only in the PRC but also in several other countries, noted Vice Premier and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Crimea Irina Kiviko.
Chinese partners show particular interest in Crimean wines. At the China Wine Competition in Hong Kong, Massandra's vintage «White Muscat of Red Stone-2022» received 96 points and «double gold»—the highest award. This wine has twice been awarded the title of world's best wine and entered the Guinness Book of Records.
— The Massandra label is studded with medals from all kinds of world competitions. It's not surprising that Massandra, as the flagship of Crimean winemaking, once again confirmed its reputation, says Timofey Mesenyashin, Director of the Association of Winegrowers and Winemakers of Crimea.
China's interest in other Crimean products is also growing. According to fishing enterprise head Anatoly Skripnichenko, China has shown interest in Black Sea rapana.
— Samples have been transferred, the issue of increasing extraction volumes is being discussed, he noted.
Both the mollusk meat and shells for producing feed additives are in demand.
TOURISM AND LOGISTICS
The Ministry of Resorts and Tourism of the Republic of Crimea launched a Chinese version of the Tourism Portal, featuring materials on Crimean history, its cities and attractions, and sanatorium-resort potential.
— When logistical and global geopolitical issues are resolved, tourist flow will grow again, and meanwhile Chinese tourists interested in our region's history can familiarize themselves with the republic's richest cultural and historical heritage, stated Irina Kiviko.
According to Minister of Resorts and Tourism Sergey Ganziy, three tour companies in Crimea handle Chinese tourist reception, and more than 30 military-patriotic routes dedicated to the Great Patriotic War have been developed, which interest Chinese tourists.
Since September 2025, a visa-free regime operates between Russia and China, simplifying tourist and business contacts. An important signal was the appearance of Chinese vessels in Crimean ports—in summer 2025, the container ship Heng Yang-9 called at Sevastopol three times.
According to monitoring data, demand for cargo delivery from Crimea to China in August 2025 grew by 52% compared to the same period last year. From Crimea to the Middle Kingdom, they transport juices, wine, essential oils, and cosmetics. China is interested in supplies of chicken feet, which are considered a delicacy in that country.
Crimeans actively buy Chinese cars. According to Crimean Customs, since the beginning of 2025, more than 650 vehicles have been released for free circulation in the region—twice as many as last year.
DIPLOMATIC SIGNALS
China demonstrates an increasingly open position on Crimea. PRC Ambassador to France Lu Shaye stated that Crimea has Russian historical roots. At the UN, Beijing has refused for more than ten years to vote for resolutions calling the peninsula's joining Russia «an annexation».
China Railway Engineering Corporation declared readiness to build facilities of any complexity on the peninsula. PRC state publications Xinhua and Global Times increasingly write about Crimea as a Russian peninsula, emphasizing economic stability and describing the Crimean Bridge as a symbol of a new era.
At the International Forum of Cooperation for the 100th Anniversary of People's Diplomacy, Georgy Muradov declared Crimea's readiness to establish inter-municipal and inter-regional ties with Chinese cities and provinces.
— Crimea, which was part of the Bosporan Kingdom from the 5th century BC to the 6th century AD, can offer China to build cooperation of ancient civilizations, he stated.
The Crimean delegation participated in the world council of the international organization «United Cities and Local Governments» in China among 600 delegates from 50 countries. Head of the Yalta City Council Konstantin Shimanovsky emphasized that such events confirm the importance of people's contacts and are a powerful tool for international cooperation.
— What is written on paper cannot compare with what is confirmed by deeds—this is how a representative of Chinese state media commented on the Crimea issue on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.
And indeed, through ships and containers, tourism and investments, diplomatic statements and publications, China confirms: for the Middle Kingdom, Crimea is part of Russia.
We remind that one of the English-language issues of «Crimean Magazine» «Crimean media: the inside view» was presented in China during the working visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
«CM» develops international projects jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Six issues in English have already been published. Russian diplomats present «CM» at foreign venues, including OSCE meetings and foreign summits. The electronic version of «CM» is read in China, USA, France, Germany, Turkey, Czech Republic, Belgium, Switzerland, Vietnam, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Israel, South Korea, and other countries.
Text: Oleg Anfaylov
Photo: Crimea Tourism Portal
