Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s welcome remarks for participants in the 130th Canton Fair on 14 October 2021

Mikhail Mishustin: Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Li Keqiang, Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends,

On behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation I would like to personally welcome the participants in and guests of the 130^th China Import and Export Fair and the Pearl River International Trade Forum.

For over half a century, the Canton Fair has been a major business event in the Asia-Pacific Region. Russia's high interest in it is annually demonstrated by the active participation of entrepreneurs and hundreds of signed contracts.

Importantly, despite coronavirus-related restrictions, representatives of Russian business circles will be able to visit the fair virtually. I am convinced that this landmark event will help further advance Russia-China trade and economic cooperation and development of business contacts.

This year will mark the 20^th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia. It is the foundation of our relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction. Today, the relations are at their highest level in the entire history. They continue to develop steadily. This long-term policy meets the fundamental interests of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China.

Our cooperation in countering COVID-19 has confirmed the true spirit of friendship and partnership. Russia and China helped each other in this difficult period by sending humanitarian supplies and medical specialists on a reciprocal basis. They jointly established the production of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in China.

Trade and economic cooperation plays a key role in the development of Russia-China ties. Bilateral trade has been growing rapidly in 2021. In January-July 2021, it rose by 29 percent to $74 billion.

These dynamics allows us to hope that we will set new records by the end of the year and will soon reach the target to increase our trade to $200 billion set by President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping.

Our investment cooperation is progressing. The portfolio of the relevant inter-governmental commission includes about 90 major projects amounting to $150 billion. We should consolidate and develop such trends and promote the establishment of new joint ventures.

Our energy partnership has become strategic. Russia is a reliable supplier of energy to China. We have been implementing major initiatives in peaceful nuclear energy and maintaining comprehensive cooperation in outer space exploration. There are joint projects implemented in industry, agriculture and transport infrastructure.

The Russian Government pays special attention to high-tech cooperation with our Chinese partners. We achieved positive results in the framework of the cross years of scientific, technical and innovative cooperation. I am sure our powerful scientific, educational and innovative potential will make it possible to raise the Russian and Chinese economies to a new level of technological development.

I would like to make special mention of the important role played by regular meetings of the Prime Ministers of the two countries in coordinating our joint efforts. My colleague and comrade, Mr Li Keqiang, and I will meet very soon - in late November. We will discuss priority areas of our trade, economic, scientific, technical, and humanitarian cooperation. We will make joint decisions on launching new projects in various areas.

In conclusion, I would like to wish the 130^th Canton Fair success in its work. I expect that Russian and Chinese participants will sign new commercial contracts whose implementation will give additional impetus to the development of our comprehensive and multifaceted bilateral cooperation.

Thank you.

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