It is said that Russia will return the land in China. Is this true? What's its area and size?

Heixiazi Island is very close to Khabarovsk, Russia's largest city in the Far East. "Even if China has troops, the number should not be too large, so we should take care of Russia's mood."

Zhao Jialin, a reporter from the International Herald Tribune, reported that it is pleasant and tempting to go sightseeing and fishing on Heixiazi Island with lush vegetation, but it may have to wait for our domestic tourists.

On November 14th, China and Russia signed the Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on the Eastern Section of the Sino-Russian Border, thus solving the 43km border problem between the two countries. According to Russian media reports, in the eastern border, half of Heixiazi Island (called "Great Ussuri Island" by Russia) and all of Yinlong Island (called "Tarabarov Island" by Russia) are under the jurisdiction of China. An expert who asked not to be named said: "The signing of the document provides a legal guarantee for talking about the prospects for the development of these islands."

Russian gunboats have been withdrawn

The reporter asked the relevant departments of Fuyuan County, Heilongjiang Province, which is closest to Heixiazi Island, about the handover of island territory by telephone. The staff of the Armed Police Frontier Brigade under the County Public Security Bureau told the International Herald Tribune that the handover work has not yet started. As the Heilongjiang River and the Wusuli River are frozen, ships are not allowed to travel, so the Russian gunboats that once roamed the rivers have been withdrawn. As for whether this is related to the signing of an agreement between the two countries to divide the Black Box Island, the staff member said: "I can't answer this question."

A person who once participated in the demarcation work told the reporter of the International Herald Tribune that the demarcation of the eastern border between the two countries has not yet started. Before the specific work is carried out, the two sides should set up a joint demarcation committee, and then a sub-group will determine the field boundary. "When the boundary is demarcated, aerial photography should be carried out first, and topographic maps should be drawn based on photos. Then drop the line on the map. Now, both China and Russia can make electronic maps. " According to him, after the drawing is completed, it will be accepted by experts, and then the boundary pillar will be set up according to the line. "The boundary pillar will be set up according to specific needs. Usually there will be (boundary markers) at important turning points. "

Jiang Yi, an expert on Russian issues at the China Academy of Social Sciences, told the reporter of the International Herald Tribune that the issue of territorial transfer can only be carried out after the approval of the National People's Congress of China and the Russian State Duma and the demarcation of the boundary by both sides. He believes that the parliaments of the two countries are expected to approve the agreement in the first half of next year. "If it is normal, it is estimated that demarcation can begin in the second half of next year."

Garrison should take care of Russian sentiment

As for the demarcation time, experts believe that the demarcation area is not large, and technically, "it can be completed in one month, but not more than two months". After the completion of the border crossing, Russia should remove people and property from the Chinese territory. "Communication between the two sides is necessary during the handover process. The biggest factor is whether the Russian side (State Duma) recognizes it. "

On the question of whether to station border guards on the island, Jiang Yi said that not every point of China's land border needs to be set up with border guards, but if ports are set up on the island, there should be border guards, and the border management will be looser accordingly, which is convenient for border people to carry out trade.

An official surnamed Wang from Fuyuan County Tourism Bureau bluntly told the reporter of International Herald Tribune: "Is there no border defense and no confusion?" ！”

In addition, experts said that Heixiazi Island is very close to Khabarovsk, Russia's largest city in the Far East. "Even if China has troops, the number should not be too large, so it should take care of Russian emotions."

There are more fish species than the Volga River

Heixiazi Island has been under the jurisdiction of Russia for a long time, so Chinese personnel have not been able to visit it for a long time. According to the brief introduction released by Russian media, we can see its rare ecological environment and tourism development value.

Russian newspapers said that Heixiazi Island and Yinlong Island are located in the floodplain with Wusuli River and Heilongjiang (called "amur river" in Russia). They are isomorphic with the surrounding small islands * * * to form a fairly compact floodplain, which includes more than 5 islands. The total area of these islands is 35 square kilometers, together with the adjacent waters ***45 square kilometers. It covers an area larger than that of countries like Liechtenstein or Malta, and slightly smaller than that of Singapore.

The natural resources on the island are rich and diverse. Land resources are of great value, and 7% of the island's area can be used as cultivated land, mowing ground or pasture. Heixiazi Island has lush vegetation, and a large number of rare wild animals inhabit the island, including black storks, Hei He, Yuanyang, Hongyan and leatherback turtles. There are many kinds of fish living in the surrounding Heilongjiang and its tributaries and lakes. "There are more fish species around the island than in the whole Volga River basin", especially salmon (its roe is regarded as a feast delicacy) migrates here every year.

The report also said that these islands have great entertainment and leisure value. About 15, fruit and vegetable gardens have been built here, and tens of thousands of people come here for sightseeing and vacation every year. Now, there are tourist bases for farms and enterprises, as well as villages with permanent population.

Heixiazi waits for a domestic tourism company

An official of Fuyuan County Tourism Bureau told the reporter of International Herald Tribune that the development of tourism resources on Heixiazi Island "has great potential and will become a tourist highlight. The future tourism value is better than Suifenhe and Manzhouli. "

He told reporters that in addition to taking advantage of the island's proximity to Khabarovsk, the largest city in the Russian Far East, it can also develop border trade, real estate and leisure projects. However, he admitted that due to the lack of understanding of the actual situation of the island, no investors came to negotiate business. "If it is developed on a large scale, a bridge must be built to connect with Heixiazi Island." He said.

The staff of a well-known domestic travel agency told the International Herald Tribune that most of the border tours are carried out by local travel agencies, and the profit margin of these projects is relatively limited due to the short distance. When the reporter asked some travel agencies in Heilongjiang Province if they were interested in developing Heixiazi Island, the answer was "not considered for the time being". But at the same time, these units said that the Sino-Russian border tour business is very popular at present, especially from June to September every year. However, due to little knowledge about the situation of Heixiazi Island, these companies did not comment on the development prospects.

according to the information provided by Russia and the projects recommended by some Russian travel agencies, experts estimate that China tourism companies can develop fishing, hunting, rafting, exploration and other tourism projects in Heixiazi Island and its surrounding waters.

Russian territory: This is an opportunity

Earlier, according to media reports, Sun Qiwen, Minister of Propaganda Department of Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee, said that the local government hoped to work with Russia to develop Heixiazi Island into a Sino-Russian trade island. Some reports even revealed that the development plan has been submitted to the relevant state departments. However, when the reporter of the International Herald Tribune asked Minister Sun for verification, his secretary said: "The Minister is unwilling to talk about this issue further."

Lai Vintar, Vice Chairman of the Government of Khabarovsk Krai and Minister of Economic Development and International Liaison, who is visiting China, recently accepted an exclusive interview with the International Herald Tribune. He believes that the plan to develop the tourism resources of Heixiazi Island with China and build a free trade zone on the island is "interesting and promising".

Vintar said that the signing of the border demarcation document by the leaders of the two countries "brought China's territory closer to Khabarovsk, an important town in the Russian Far East". "I don't think this is a threat," he said. "It will be more convenient for China tourists to travel to Khabarovsk." On the contrary, it is an opportunity. However, specific cooperation projects cannot be discussed until the border demarcation document is approved. "

Experts say that the development of Heixiazi Island by China and Russia has not only economic factors, but also political factors. Jiang Yi said that solving the side issues will also test the mutual trust, openness and win-win consciousness of the two countries. The specific issues depend on the implementation of the two countries. "From the current situation, it is not possible for (China) to develop (two islands) in two to three years." Source International Herald Tribune