Official says Russia can exceed Northeast Passage loading target

MOSCOW, Apr 8 (PRIME) -- The target of loading the Northeast Passage with 80 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2024 can be exceeded, Nikolai Korchunov, ambassador at large of the Foreign Ministry for international cooperation in the Arctic, told PRIME in an interview released on Monday.

“The dynamics that we saw over the last two years signals that the goal can be not only fulfilled but exceeded, and its fulfillment would convert the Northeast Passage into a new quality of an effective transport corridor of a global significance,” Korchunov said.

Russia is open for dialogue with other countries on the Northeast Passage and sees China as an important partner in its development, the official said.

“We are open for dialogue with all international partners, including China, on the development of the Northeast Passage. We see China as an important partner. The main criterion is added value which is brought into by the foreign partner, its commitment to long-term cooperation,” Korchunov said.

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