Russia and China: strategic partnership
Russian-Chinese relations have the character of a comprehensive strategic partnership. The constant political dialog is maintained at the highest level, the countries have common positions on relevant international and regional issues. In 2016, the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China marked its 15th anniversary. In addition, China is Russia's largest trading partner.
Tatarstan also cooperates actively with Chinese partners. At different times, President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao, Premier of the State Council of China Li Keqiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhang Dejiang visited the Republic of Tatarstan. Delegations from Tatarstan are also frequent quests in the People's Republic of China.
It should be reminded that the General Consulate of China was opened in Kazan recently. There is the Trade and Economic Representative Office of Tatarstan in Beijing. Agreements with a number of Chinese provinces, companies and universities were signed and are being implemented. The republic is actively involved in the work of the joint regional group “Volga-Yangtze”.
The dialog of the leading companies of Russia and China
So, on March 21, a representative delegation of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China headed by the Head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Song Tao arrived in Tatarstan. The delegation included businessmen from a number of Chinese provinces, representing various branches of national economy. The companies of Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, Qingdao, Fujian Province were among the delegation.
The Chinese delegation arrived in Kazan to participate in the 6th Russia-China Business Forum and Inter-party dialog between the United Russia Party and Communist Party of China. Chairman of the "United Russia" party's Supreme Council Boris Gryzlov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Sergei Zheleznyak, Chairman of State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan Farid Mukhametshin, Head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Song Tao, as well as the CEO of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Taliya Minullina took part in the meeting.
At the plenary session of the Forum, Taliya Minullina presented the investment potential of the republic of Tatarstan and told about investment policy of the region.
She emphasized that Tatarstan is located in the heart of the New Silk Road (a transport route for overland movement of goods and passengers from China to European countries), which gives Chinese companies an opportunity to localize their production in our republic.
Tatarstan conducts an active intraregional dialog with Chinese partners in trade, economic, scientific, technical, educational, cultural and humanitarian spheres. For two days in the framework of inter-party dialog the questions of Russian-Chinese cooperation, multilateral dialog on search and implementation of new forms of party work and further democratization of social and political life at all levels were discussed.
"Great importance was attached to the development of links between Russian regions and Chinese provinces. We cherish current high level of relations with China and place emphasis on expansion of our comprehensive contacts, aimed at strengthening of friendship and cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China in favor of our peoples" - Taliya Minullina noted.
Specific joint projects of Tatarstan and China
Last year the fertilizer plant "Ammoni" was launched in Mendeleevsk. It was built with the participation of Chinese National Chemical Engineering Corporation.
"Haier" company established refrigerator factory in Tatarstan. Today, a decision to build the second plant for manufacturing of washing machines was made.
Joint work is being carried out with Chinese companies in such fields as petrochemistry, machine building, automotive industry, IT development, agriculture, construction, health and tourism.
The outcomes of the 6th Russia-China Business Forum
At the conclusion of the Forum, a Draft Agreement on the establishment of a Russian-Chinese cultural and business Center and Agreement on the establishment of a joint insurance company "Gohje", as well as Memorandum on the establishment of friendly trade and economic relations between the province of Fujian and the Republic of Tatarstan were signed.
In response, Mr. Song Tao pointed out that today Russian-Chinese relations are characterized by high dynamics of development: “Our task at the platform of inter-party dialog is to contribute to strengthening of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation”.
Also, the Head of the International Department noted that Tatarstan is well known in China as a region with significant economic, investment and research capacity. He appreciated the republic's contribution to the development of interregional cooperation with China.