29th Harbin fair to become rehearsal of World Economic Forum in Vladivostok

HARBIN /China/, June 14. /TASS/. The 29th Harbin International Trade Fair that opened here on Thursday will become a run-in even ahead of the World Economic Forum, due in Vladivostok on September 11 to September 13, the Russian Consul General in Shenyang, Sergei Paltov, told TASS. "In addition to the 5th Russian-Chinese EXPO [to be held in Yekaterinburg in July], one more event is related to the Harbin Fair," he said. "Without a spec of doubt, this is the World Economic Forum. A number of Russian regional governors are present here. […] Many things discussed at this fair can be reflected in the future in the documents signed in the presence of Russian and Chinese leaders." "In fact, this is a rehearsal of Vladivostok for many regions," Paltov said. He indicated that the administrations of the Primorsky [Maritime] and Amur regions hope to test the ground scrupulously for cross-border economic cooperation areas and new transport corridors. "While previously border infrastructures - I mean road overpasses, border checkpoints and so on -- had a high enough position on the agenda, new themes have come up now," he said. "I mean the manufacturing sector, logistics and other aspects." The 29th Harbin International Trade Fair that opened on Thursday will last on June 19. It occupies a floor space of 86,000 sq. km and has more than 2,400 exhibition booths. Taking part in the event are about 1,400 companies, including almost 500 non-Chinese companies from 38 nations and territories. Almost 16,000 exhibitors and visitors from 49 countries have registered themselves with the fair organizing committee. Read more