A meeting of the organization committee on preparation and holding the International forum “ROSTKI: Russia and China – mutually beneficial cooperation” held in Kazan

On 15 August the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the Consul General of China in Kazan Xiong Bo took part in a meeting of the organization committee on preparation and holding the International forum ”ROSTKI: Russia and China – mutually beneficial cooperation” held by Tatarstan Prime Minister Aleksey Pesoshin in the Government House of the republic.

Opening the meeting, Aleksey Pesoshin, who is the head of the forum regional committee, reminded that today Russia-China relations are developing in all spheres, including those at the regional level. The most important are such branches as supplies of petrochemical produce, connections in the high tech sphere, attraction of Chinese companies to the special economic zones and others.

In 2022 the trade turnover between Tatarstan and China grew by more than 58 per cent and reached more than 1.6bn US dollars, Aleksey Pesoshin informed.

Speaking about the forum, the regional Prime Minister said that it is planned to be held at the Kazan Expo Exhibition Center on 7-8 September of the current year with more than 3 thousand people expected to take part in it. The forum programme will include about 40 business sessions. He also emphasized that Tatarstan has big experience in working with Chinese provinces and acts as a platform and the main organizer of the forum.

The Head of the Tatarstan Investments Development Agency Taliya Minullina told the participants of the meeting about the forum programme which will also comprise issues of Russia-China business cooperation, transport and logistics, city diplomacy as an important factor of development of modern foreign relations and others.

Speaking at the meeting the Consul General of China in Kazan Xiong Bo said that he supports the forum and that he was sure it will play an important role in interregional relations. “We are taking part in forum preparation and have already sent invitations to all provinces,” he said. Mister Xiong Bo also reminded that the BRICS summit, which is planned to be held in Kazan in 2024, also opens new possibilities for relations with Tatarstan.

The regional Minister of Culture Irada Ayupova told the meeting about the cultural programmes of the forum.

Summing up the results of the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov said that relations with China are priority for today. “China is the strategic partner of our country. The main task is to hold the forum at the highest level and to demonstrate possibilities of Tatarstan and its descent level,” he said.

He gave an errand to provide all necessary work for visa and customs support of guests, meeting them in the airport, taking to hotels and also to ensure necessary security measures during the event.