Seeking stronger business ties with Russia
Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province expects to take its partnership with Russia to a higher level in the next few years, according a recently held work meeting.
Province authorities predict that in 2010, Heilongjiang's trade with Russia will reach $14 billion, its investments there will hit $800 million and labor service exported to Russia will be worth $400 million.
Figures provided by the provincial statistics bureau of Heilongjiang reveal that its trade with Russia was worth $6.69 billion last year, increasing 17.8 percent year-on-year and accounting for 20 percent of the total Sino-Russian trade volume.
To enhance business ties between Heilongjiang and Russia, the province will strengthen its partnership and coordination with Russian local governments, with an interactive mechanism among the governments to be established for the purpose.
Emphasis will be placed on technological cooperation and collaboration in large projects.
Large cooperation projects will be launched in the fields of timber processing, mining, agriculture and real estate.
Through technological cooperation programs with Russia, the province also hopes to introduce more advanced technologies to sectors like petrochemicals, equipment manufacturing, energy development, food and pharmaceuticals.
Construction of the Harbin International Science and Technology Park is to be accelerated. The park, located in the provincial capital of Harbin, will mainly focus on technological cooperation projects between Heilongjiang and Russia, especially research and development entities from Russia that are set to launch operations there.
Further, the province will increase the construction of Russia-oriented export processing zones, where enterprises from the rest of China are welcome to set up operations.
Heilongjiang's unique geographical location, sharing more than 3,000 km of borders with Russia, as well as its preferential policies and rich experience in doing business with Russia, will offer ample opportunities to these enterprises.
They are encouraged to invest in such industries as furniture manufacturing, garments, household electrical appliances, and the production and processing of vegetables and fruits, as products from these sectors enjoy great demand in Russia.
Year of China
Russian businesspeople study a real estate project in Harbin. |
A large-scale cultural exchange program is now going on, comprising the Year of Russia in China and the Year of China in Russia.
This is a grand platform for the two peoples to better understand each other and a good opportunity for the business communities of the two countries to further promote cooperation.
Heilongjiang is an active player in this mega cultural event, and the importance it accords to it is evidenced by the establishment of the leaders' work team for the program, headed by Heilongjiang Governor Zhang Zuoji.
Heilongjiang has scheduled eight events for the Year of China in Russia in 2007.
These events will mainly be held in Russia's Far Eastern regions which border Heilongjiang, as well as the capital Moscow.
With business promotion as its focus, the activities under the event will also cover culture, education and sports.
A Heilongjiang Week was held in Moscow in March, which included an exhibition showcasing Heilongjiang, a promotional meeting for the 18th Harbin Trade Fair, and a promotional fair for Sino-Russian cooperation projects.
In addition, a food and beverage exhibition, a tourism fair, a Heilongjiang cultural week, a media exchange event and a series of concerts will be staged in Russia's Far Eastern regions within this year.
(China Daily 06/08/2007 page20)
