Ildar Khalikov: High-speed railway is needed for Russia’s development

On April 17, at the opening of regional information center of “Moscow-Kazan” high-speed railway, Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov welcomed participants of the event and said that a high-speed railway is needed for Russia’s development and expansion of cooperation with Asian partners.

Ildar Khalikov noted that at all times transport helped to stimulate development of new territories, expand contacts between countries and raised living standards of citizens.

On behalf of all citizens of Tatarstan Khalikov thanked leadership of OAO “Russian railways” for their assistance in opening of the information center. He added that this railway will be called Moscow-Kazan-Beijing in future.

First vice-president of OAO “Russian railways” Aleksandr Misharin thanked Tatarstan leadership for organization of the opening ceremony.
Russian Deputy Minister of Transport Aleksei Tsydenov, who took part in the event, said that the high-speed railway is the biggest investment project in contemporary history of Russia. He compared it with opening of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Tsydenov noted that Tatarstan leadership renders assistance in construction of “Moscow-Kazan” railway.

Deputy Head of Chinese State committee on development and reforms Hu Zucai said that the project will favour development of relations between Russia and China in the sphere of railway construction.