Rustam Minnikhanov: Tatarstan is interested in developing cooperation with Heilongjiang Province - an important centre of Chinese heavy industry
On July 12, in the Kazan Kremlin, at his meeting with Governor of China's Heilongjiang Province Wang Wentao, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that Heilongjiang Province is an important centre of Chinese heavy industry and that Tatarstan is interested in developing cooperation with this region.
Before the meeting, Wentao left a memorable note in the Book of honorary guests. Then Minnikhanov and Wentao signed an agreement on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between Tatarstan and Heilongjiang Province. This document has become the fifth agreement concluded between Tatarstan and Chinese provinces.
Opening the meeting, Minnikhanov stressed that Russian and China have all-round strategic partnership relations, maintaining an ongoing political dialogue at the highest level. The leaders of both countries hold regular meetings and the states have common positions on topical international and regional issues, he added.
Tatarstan appreciates the current high level of relations with China and attaches great importance to expanding all-round contacts aimed at strengthening friendship and interaction between Russia and China, Tatarstan President noted.
He reminded that 2018 and 2019 have been announced years of interregional cooperation between Russia and China. "This is a good opportunity for bolstering ties at the level of regions and municipalities," Minnikhanov said. “Tatarstan is actively cooperating with Chinese partners, exchanging delegations on a regular basis. There is a trade and economic representative office of our republic in Beijing and the Consulate General of China in Kazan. Agreements have been signed and implemented with a number of Chinese provinces, cities, companies and universities. We are also actively working as part of the joint Volga-Yangtze regional group.”
According to Minnikhanov, machine-buidling, petrochemical industry, power engineering, food and tourism are well-developed in Heilongjiang Province. "Heilongjiang is developing the closest cooperation with Russia as compared to other Chinese provinces. We hope that your companies will work actively with Tatarstan. Our companies will also intensify their activities in your province," Tatarstan President said.