Russian-Chinese business forum yields $3.5 billions in contracts.

13/10 Tass 77

BEIJING, October 13 (Itar-Tass) - Contracts to the tune of 3.5 billion
US dollars were concluded during the Russian-Chinese business forum,
Russian vice-premier Alexander Zhukov told reporters on Tuesday.

According to the vice-premier, several dozen agreements and contracts
with the participation of companies of the two countries were signed this
morning. For instance the Russian Vneshekonombank and the Chinese
Export-Import Bank signed several major credit agreements to a sum of 500
million dollars, while the Russian Vneshtorgbank and the Chinese
Agricultural Bank struck a credit agreement.
The sides also concluded several contracts on building infrastructure
projects, including road infrastructure as well as railways. For instance
the Russian Railways Company and the Chinese Railways signed an agreement
on cooperation in organising express traffic in Russia. Besides, the two
countries signed several contracts on building in Russia enterprises to
produce building materials, including a cement and brick factories.
Zhukov noted that the signing of the above documents was a very
important move in consolidating bilateral contacts between Russia and
China, especially under crisis conditions when the volume of bilateral
trade declined somewhat.
The vice-premier added that a session on preparing regular meetings
between the heads of government was held in Beijing. The sides at the
session discussed all areas of Russian-Chinese cooperation. "I believe
that the meeting between the heads of government will be also a success,"
Zhukov noted.
In the vice-premier's words, the signing of several bilateral
agreements is also expected by the results of the Tuesday talks between
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao. For
instance the sides will sign an intergovernmental agreement on
notification on launches of ballistic missiles as well as space launch
vehicles and an agreement on setting up cultural centres.
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