BEIJING, March 6. /TASS/. Chinese and Russian companies may take advantage from the departure of quite a few Western firms from Russia amid the closure of Western markets for Russian businesses, a Chinese expert told TASS on Monday.
Commenting on prospects for promoting economic cooperation between the two countries in an increasingly complex world, Zhou Weidi, professor and vice dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration with Central China Normal University in Wuhan, said, "As for Western brands and the current situation in Russia, Chinese companies could continue investing in the Russian economy following the withdrawal of Western companies and their brands."
"It may be stated that this is a very good opportunity both for Chinese exporters and for those who have been investing in Russia," he added.
According to Zhou, the very process of filling the gaps left after Western companies withdrew from the Russian market "is in line with the objectives of Chinese-Russian strategic cooperation."
"Both China and Russia may benefit from it," Zhou underscored. "In the circumstances, I think that the `West has closed its doors’, including to Russian energy. In fact, Russia should increase its market share aimed at supplying goods to other countries," he said.