The official list of 47 documents that were signed during the official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China does not include any agreements relating to joint projects involving construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait.
Thus, the widely publicized reports in influential Russian media claiming participation of China International Fund Ltd (CIF) in the financing of the project and construction by the state-owned China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) are untrue. It was previously announced that Putin would sign the relevant memorandum during his visit to Beijing.
"Participation or non-participation of China in the project for construction of the Kerch bridge is an indication of China’s real attitude to the occupation of the Crimea,” said Serhii Vovk, the director of the Center for Transport Strategies. “The absence of an agreement indicates that Beijing will not invest billions in a territory with an unrecognized status."
Previously, Chinese companies expressed interest in building a port in the Crimea as part of Ukraine. The relevant memorandum was signed in December 2013. The field engineering surveys on land and sea that are required to prepare the options for and types of crossing over the Kerch Strait should be completed by June 1. The Russian Ministry of Economic Development said that allocation of RUB 155 billion (USD 4.4 billion) for construction of the Kerch bridge was being discussed.
