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Russia’s ‘eastward pivot’ gains steam as Putin confirms new China border railway
The new railway track will use the same standard gauge as China, a sign of Moscow’s ‘pragmatic’ focus on boosting ties with Beijing, analysts say
Sherry Wangin Beijing
Published: 12:00pm, 5 Nov 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a deal to build a second standard-gauge railway track at a key border crossing with China, as Moscow looks to accelerate its eastward pivot and boost ties with Beijing ahead of the Apec summit.
According to a document posted on Russia’s official legislative information portal on Monday, Putin has now signed a law ratifying the railway deal reached with Beijing during the Russian leader’s visit to China in May.
The two sides have agreed to jointly construct a new track along the cross-border railway linking Zabaikalsk in southeastern Russia and Manzhouli in northern China.
