After doing garment business for more than a decade in the Russian port city of Vladivostok, a Chinese businessman surnamed Li is now able to live a comfortable life.

As China and Russia vow to strengthen economic ties and aim for annual bilateral trade turnover of 100 billion U.S. dollars by 2015, the Chinese market where Li works has become more lively than ever.

Most store owners in the market are Chinese, and more of their countrymen are coming to make a profit by selling inexpensive clothes of fine quality.

On weekends and during holidays, the market is frequented by locals and Chinese students.

The market offers not only bargains, but also job opportunities. Li hired a local Russian for 15 U.S. dollars a day at the request of the market manager. It was a prerequisite to start a business there.

Vladivostok is home to one of the main transport hubs in the Russian Far East, which plays an important role in international cabotage in the Pacific Rim.

The city has also seen strengthening bilateral trade with Japan and the Republic of Korea in recent years.

"Japanese cars are the best seller because they are of high quality and low price, and are easy to operate and maintain," said a local resident named Renya.

In the city's second-hand automobile market, the price of a used Japanese car ranges from 5,000 to 20,000 U.S. dollars. Top brand sports utilities are sold for as low as 30,000 U.S. dollars.

Last August, senior Russian and Japanese diplomats held consultations over a peace treaty and territorial disputes, as well as discussing ways to strengthen economic and trade cooperation.

South Korean smartphone giant Samsung has made its way into almost every mobile phone store in downtown Vladivostok, and are displayed in the most prominent positions.

"We sell an average of 10 sets of Samsung phones every day," said Peter, salesman of a store in Aleytckar street, the city center.

South Korean brands such as LG also have dominated the home appliance market for years.

"Low price and high performance are the reasons why customers choose these brands," Peter said. Endi

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