Rustam Minnikhanov: Tatarstan appreciates high level of relations with China

On June 10, at his meeting with Chairman of Permanent committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of the People's Republic of China (Parliament of the People's Republic of China) Zhang Dejiang at the Kazan Kremlin, Interim President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov said that Tatarstan appreciates high level of relations with China and expansion of contacts, strengthening of friendship and cooperation between Russia and China are very important for the republic. He characterized Russia-China relations as comprehensive strategic partnership.

Minnikhanov continued that national years of Russia and China, years of Russian and Chinese languages and tourism were successfully held. Much emphasis is put on development of relations between Russian regions and Chinese provinces.

“Cooperation between China and Tatarstan is actively developing. Former Chairman of China Hu Jintao, Premier of the State Council of China Li Keqiang, Chinese representative delegations and businessmen have visited our republic at different imes,” Minnikhanov said. He added that he has visited China a few times, and last year was especially active. “I visited China twice, also with the delegation led by Russian President Vladimir Putin,” he said.

Moreover, Trade-economic representative office of the Republic of Tatarstan opened in China. Currently, opening of Consulate-general of China in Kazan is being considered.

According to Minnikhanov, the republic actively cooperates with Chinese provinces, and a number of joint projects in the sphere of engineering, petrochemistry, and education are implemented in Tatarstan. Thus, Tatarstan takes part in work of joint regions group “Volga-Yangtze”, and China National Chemical Engineering Corporation takes part in implementation of “Ammoni” project. Another important project is construction of high-speed railway “Moscow-Kazan”.

Direct flights are very important for developing cooperation between Tatarstan and China.

Zhang Dejiang thanked Rustam Minnikhanov for the warm reception, and said that the republic is widely known in China. Comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China are constantly developing, he added.

“Your republic has advantageous geographical location, developed industry and education. It is important for further development of cooperation with China,” Mr Zhang Dejiang summarized. He supported the idea of launching direct flights between Tatarstan and Chinese cities.