(Yicai Global) Nov. 17 -- China and Russia have been deepening ties in recent years, particularly in the high-speed rail sector. The pair recently set up the China-Russia High-Speed Rail Research Center in Changchun, in China's northeastern province of Jilin, state-owned China News Service reported yesterday.

CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co. and Russian Rapid Transit Railway Co. set up the center in partnership with Moscow Jiaotong University, the former said in a statement on Nov. 16.

CRRC Changchun will actively work with its Russian counterpart to research cold-resistant, energy-saving operations and maintenance alongside other technologies, it said. The duo will also cultivate international engineering and technical talent and outline standards for integrated technologies to enhance the technical strength of both countries.

In 2014 and 2016, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding and letter of intent, respectively, to cooperate in high-speed rail and develop a line between the Russian capital Moscow and Kazan in the south west.