Rustem Khamitov met with delegation of Chinese city of Qingdao

UFA, 18 September 2018. /Bashinform News Agency/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/. Yesterday in Moscow, the Head of Bashkortostan Rustem Khamitov met with a delegation of the city of Qingdao of the People's Republic of China led by Mayor Meng Fanli. The parties discussed prospects for the development of interregional cooperation and implementation of joint projects.

"Bashkortostan welcomes its colleague of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summits. Three years ago our republic hosted the SCO Summit, and this year the organization's Summit was held in your wonderful city", Rustem Khamitov said. "Today's meeting, among other things, is a contribution to the implementation of the program of events for the Year of Russian-Chinese Interregional Cooperation".

The Head of the Republic marked the trade and economic ties actively developing between Bashkortostan and China, joint projects in the field of education, science, and culture.

"We know that Qingdao is a very interesting and, in all respects, an attractive partner for us. It is a large port, one of the leading industrial, scientific and educational centers of China," stressed Rustem Khamitov. "Today's meeting will certainly help us to get to know each other better. You are welcome in our republic, where we are ready to organize a rich program for you, to acquaint you with our nature, historical and cultural attractions and traditions of the peoples of the region".

"China and Russia have very good political relations. Attention from the leadership of the states and the interest of enterprises play an essential role here", Meng Fanli said. "Our city is an important seaside center in China. Qingdao is a major tourist center, a resort, an international port, a historically famous city. The GDP of our city last year amounted to more than 1.1 trillion yuan. This year, the economy of our city is also developing rapidly. The growth of the Qingdao economy would be impossible both without the domestic market of our country and without international cooperation. I am confident that due to close ties we will have good prospects".

During the meeting, in the presence of the Head of the Republic, an agreement on the intentions was signed to set up an educational center in Ufa within the framework of the International Project of Weidong-Demos Vocational Education.

The People's Republic of China takes the second place among the foreign trade partners of Bashkortostan. The volume of republican trade with China amounted to 675.3 million dollars in 2017, more than 80 percent of this amount (546.7 million dollars - the maximum value in the history of trade relations) accounted for exports.

Among the products exported from Bashkortostan to China are turbojet engines (77 percent), chemical products and synthetic rubber, helicopters, petroleum products, crude sulfur, non-ferrous metal products, measuring instruments, hand tools, chipboard and timber, honey, vodka, and other products. The main import items are machinery, equipment, and vehicles (63 percent), chemical products (14 percent), metal products (9 percent), textiles (7 percent), canned fruits and vegetables (3 percent). 22 enterprises with the participation of Chinese capital operate in the territory of our republic.