IN BRIEF (Page 20)
Auto forum
The China-East Europe Auto Market Forum will begin on June 16 in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province.
As part of the 18th China Harbin International Fair for Trade and Economic Cooperation, the forum will feature government officials, auto traders and media agencies from China and Russia, in addition to Chinese car and component makers.
Participants will hold talks on industrial policy, market research and development strategy, seeking to build a new platform for exchange of opinion and facilitation of commerce.
Recent years have seen Russia emerge as a fast expanding auto market with huge potential. It became China's biggest car export destination in 2006, when 38,000 cars worth $350 million were sent to Russia, an increase of 300 percent year-on-year.
Both the number and value of the cars traded with Russia contributed more than 11 percent of China's total auto export.
As Russia is listed as the world's fourth fastest growing auto market, more carmakers from various countries are vying for a share.
Against such a background, the upcoming forum focusing on mutual development is expected to help Chinese carmakers better explore the Russian market and promote cooperation between Chinese and Russian auto industries.
Roundtable meeting
The first roundtable meeting on economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia will take place during the 18th China Harbin International Fair for Trade and Economic Cooperation.
The roundtable is planned to be a part of the annual fair from this session on, the fair organizing committee said.
Themed on Sino-Russian port development and trade facilitation, this meeting is aimed at promoting trade between China and Russia.
Organizers said they plan to invite local governments of the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Mongolia to the forum when conditions are mature, and develop the meeting into an economic and trade roundtable for local government leaders of Northeast Asian countries.
(China Daily 06/06/2007 page20)
