Rustam Minnikhanov meets Chinese delegation led by Sichuan Province Vice-Governor Liu Jie

On March 4, at his meeting with Sichuan Province representatives,  Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that Republic of Tatarstan, as one of Russian regions, is interested in developing relations with the People’s Republic of China and its provinces. 

The Chinese delegation, led by Sichuan Province Vice Governor Liu Jie, arrived in Tatarstan.

Welcoming the guests, Minnikhanov said Tatarstan is actively cooperating with China, with its top government officials and business delegations having visited the republic many times.

“We are studying China’s economic experience. Tatarstan set up its trade-economic representative office in China," he said adding that a China consular office will be opened in Kazan soon.

During the meeting, Minnikhanov outlined some promising areas for cooperation with Chinese partners, including cooperation with the Kamaz automaker – assembly of Russian rucks in China and assembly of Chinese autos in Tatarstan.

He also reminded that the Chinese company Haier is planning to open its home appliance production facility in Naberezhnye Chelny in April. 

Three companies with China’s participation operate in the Alabuga SEZ.

Minnikhanov continued that Tatarstan considered opening a Chinese medicine centre. According to him, the issue of establishing joint enterprises with Chinese partners in the fields of agriculture, construction, logistics, furniture manufacturing, transformers and others is being negotiated.

“Building a Moscow – Kazan high-speed railway line in conjunction with Chinese counterparts has become an important joint project. We think that the Western Europe – Western China transport corridor project will contribute to our contacts as well,” Tatarstan President noted.

Speaking about projects with Sichuan Province, Minnikhanov reminded since 2014 Tatarstan has been included in the Volga – Yangtze working group. A cooperation agreement between Sichuan Province and Tatarstan was signed last August, while in November a memorandum of cooperation between Kazan and Sichuan’s capital was signed.

Sichuan’s Vice Governor Liu Jie said that Tatarstan President’s visit to China in 2015 contributed to the promotion of relations. He explained that the main purpose of the visit to Kazan is preliminary work to prepare the visit of Sichuan’s Party Committee Secretary in April.

Liu Jie named the areas the Chinese partners consider promising: infrastructure projects, home appliance production and projects in the field of informatisation.

“The representatives from our big companies who have come to Kazan have expressed an interest in implementing joint projects in Tatarstan, as well as in investing in Russia in general,” Liu Jie said.

He added that the University of Sichuan is interested in close cooperation with Kazan State University.

Liu Jie said the Chinese partners have particular interest in establishing cooperation in the aircraft and helicopter industry.