"In recent years, the proportion of Russian employees gradually increased and we hope to employ more Russian technicians. It is not only helpful in terms of providing jobs to local people, but also good in terms of localization," he added.

Besides creating job opportunities and contributing to local tax revenue, Chinese companies play an active role in social welfare.

Armada helped Popovka, a village near one of its farms, rebuild a public kindergarten that was closed due to a funding shortage in 1994.

"Thanks to our Chinese friends, everything has changed, including the windows, carpets, cabinets and even the children's play areas," said Luba Shevchenko, head of Popovka kindergarten.

Moreover, Armada has built roads for villages in the area, arranges regular visits to elderly people living on their own and sponsors the local ice hockey team.

Da Zhigang, director of that Northeast Asia Institute at Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, said that Sino-Russian cooperation should change from being trade-oriented to investment-oriented and localization plays an important role in cooperation.

Contact the writers at wuyong@chinadaily.com.cn and liuce@chinadaily.com.cn