Rais of Tatarstan meets delegation of diplomatic missions of foreign countries to Russia

On 17 April in the Kazan Kremlin the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minikhanov had a meeting with a delegation of diplomatic missions of foreign countries to Russia held with participation of representatives of embassies of China, Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines .

Speaking at the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the Russian Foreign Ministry for having organized the trip of the delegation to the republic and emphasized that international cooperation is one of the key factors of the sustainable development and prosperity of countries and regions.

“Russia has always pursued and will continue to pursue a balanced, constructive foreign policy that takes into account both our national interests and objective trends in global development. Despite all difficulties our country is committed to maintaining open and mutually beneficial relations with all partners interested in cooperation, deepening ties in economic and humanitarian spheres, and jointly confronting acute challenges and common threats,” he said.

“Tatarstan is a dynamically developing republic that combines advanced technologies, a strong industrial base, and openness to international partnership,” Rustam Minnikhanov said and named several key spheres of economy, such as refinery, petrochemical and machine building industries, agribusiness and IT which are priority for the development of the republic. “Our aim is to expand our export, to strengthen positions of Tatarstan brands and to attract investments into the republic,” he said.

The Rais of the republic said that cooperation with Islamic world countries is the most important sphere of foreign activities of the republic. “We closely work with partners from Muslim countries in trade, economic, investments, scientific and educational and cultural spheres, in sports and tourism. On the errand of the Administration of the country I am the Head of the Russia -Islamic world Strategic Vision Group. Our republic is a pilot region on introduction of Islamic financing and banking principles and this year Kazan was awarded the status of the cultural capital of the Islamic world,” he informed. 

Rustam Minnikhanov also told about major international events hosted by the republic, such as the BRICS Summit, the International Economic Forum “Russia-the Islamic world; KazanForum”, the Russia-China cooperation forum “ROSTKI, the “TIME: Tatarstan-India: Mutual Efficiency”’ forum and others as well as about 10 foreign General Consulates working in Kazan. “If Governments of your countries have intentions to expand diplomatic representation in Russia, I propose you to consider an opportunity of locating your general consulates in the capital of our republic,” he said. 

The Rais of the republic emphasized that last year the foreign trade turnover of the republic amounted to 14.5bn dollars US, with China being the largest trade partner with the turnover with it exceeding 3.3bn.

“We would be grateful for assistance in expanding trade and economic cooperation with your countries, support in organizing business missions, mutual visits, forums and establishing new contacts for mutually beneficial growth,” Rustam Minnikhanov concluded.

Then representatives of diplomatic missions, namely the Ambassador of Philippines to Russian  Igor Garlit Bailen, the Ambassador of Indonesia Jose Antonio Morato Tavares,  Ambassador of Vietnam Dang Minh Khoi, the Ambassador of Cambodia Panha Pichkhun, the Ambassador of Malaysia Cheong Loon Lai and the Plenipotentiary Minister of the Chinese Embassy to Russia Tang Gozhung  thanked Rustam Minnikhanov for having organized their visit to the republic and stated the most promising spheres for developing cooperation with Tatarstan.