On 25 July, the Russian and Chinese natural resources ministers, Dmitry Kobylkin and Lu Hao, met in Beijing following the signing of a joint statement on partnership and strategic cooperation. The statement, which Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed on 5 July 2019, focuses on promoting cooperation in the field of biodiversity.

The Russian minister encouraged his Chinese counterpart to resume the discussion of an intergovernmental agreement on the establishment of Land of Big Cats, a cross-border reserve.

“The cross-border conservation area will comprise the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve and Land of the Leopard National Park in Russia and Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park in China. This project is designed to promote the conservation and restoration of the unique Amur tiger and Far Eastern leopard populations, the biodiversity of the Changbai Mountains, as well as ecotourism and education,” Kobylkin said.

The Russian minister pointed out the active development of Russian-Chinese cooperation in the effective management of natural resources and the preservation of biodiversity. He added that their collaboration was especially successful in the protection of the Amur tiger, the Far Eastern leopard and migratory birds. Dmitry Kobylkin thanked his Chinese colleagues for their assistance and professional support in the return of tigers that cross from Russia into China.