A new restaurant in Xiamen is fast becoming a hub for the city's sizeable Russian expat community. The establishment's Chinese owner says he wants to help Russians feel at home, and even find jobs. CGTN's Wu Guoxiu grabbed a bite there for a taste of Russian food, and to talk to some of the restaurant's customers.
The only Russian restaurant in town. It was open for less than a year, but quickly gained popularity among Xiamen's Russian-speaking people. Tatiana is from Moscow. She now works for a stone company in Xiamen, in charge of sales to Russia and other countries.
TATIANA RUSSIAN IN XIAMEN "I'll prefer to bring my friends to introduce them to Russian cuisine. I want to introduce them as a part of my culture. Maybe next week I'll come with my colleagues."
The restaurant is owned by a couple from northeast China who spent nearly two decades doing business in Russia. Their liking for Russian culture is evident in their current venture.
LIU WEIRAN, OWNER MOSCOW RED SQUARE RESTAURANT XIAMEN " Our chef, waitress, seafood, and other ingredients like rice, salt and sugar are all imported from Russia."
WU GUOXIU XIAMEN " Russian ingredients, a Russian chef and a Russian flavor. The owner says most Russian expats in Xiamen frequent his restaurant, as they know this is a place they can taste like home away from home. "
Liu estimates there are about four thousand Russians and Russian-speaking expats in Xiamen. He has greater ambitions for the community.
LIU WEIRAN, OWNER MOSCOW RED SQUARE RESTAURANT XIAMEN " We want to provide food services to Russians in Xiamen, cultural exchanges, and even help them find jobs. We want this restaurant to be a social place for them."
Those plans are still far off. For now, the restaurant's immediate concern is making sure the food and drinks served there are good enough so the patrons keep coming. Wu Guoxiu, CGTN, Xiamen, Fujian Province.