Rustam Minnikhanov meets leadership of China’s Shandong Province

On November 17, during his working visit to China, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov had a meeting with Vice Governor of China’s Shandong Province Yu Guoan.

Minister of Industry and Trade of the republic Albert Karimov and Director General of KAMAZ Automaker Sergey Kogogin, Chairman of the Board and General Manager of Weichai Power Tan Xuguang and other officials took part in the meeting, which was held at Weichai Power production facilities.

In his welcoming speech, Tatarstan President noted that Russia and China have comprehensive strategic partnership relations. The leaders of the two countries facilitate the development of cooperation, including at the inter-regional level.

"We appreciate the current high level of relations with China and attach great importance to the expansion of our contacts," Tatarstan President said.

Minnikhanov stressed that Tatarstan is actively cooperating with Chinese provinces and Shandong Province takes a special place among them. The main areas and spheres of bilateral cooperation are set out in the Agreement concluded between the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan and the People's Government of Shandong Province on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation in 2008. During these years, we have managed to establish partnership relations in a number of areas, he went on to say.

The cooperation with the Shandong Haier Corporation is a good example of that. The Chinese company engaged in the production of household appliances opened its factory in Tatarstan to produce refrigeration equipment. Minnikhanov said that they plan to launch one more line for the production of washing machines.

“Moreover, the Haier Company intends to set up a modern high-tech industrial park near the city of Naberezhnye Chelny to attract its partners. We are ready to render overall support in the implementation of this project,” Minnikhanov said.

Tatarstan President continued that the Shandong Weichai Power Company  and Tatarstan's KAMAZ have established fruitful cooperation in the machine building industry. He also noted that it is worth considering the possibility of cooperation with the Chinese company in the sphere of shipbuilding.

"Our successful relationship with Haier and Weichai Power companies should become a signal for other Chinese companies to choose Tatarstan to enter the Russian market," Minnikhanov emphasized.

In his turn, Yu Guoan noted that Tatarstan is a close region for Shandong Province. "Since the signing of the Cooperation Agreement in 2008, we have achieved a lot of positive results in trade, economic and cultural spheres. I am sure that through joint efforts we will be able to maintain momentum in our relations and implement many other projects," the provincial leader concluded.

The meeting also considered further steps to develop interregional cooperation in the field of oil refining, automotive industry, agriculture, tourism and humanitarian sphere.