Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin
attended the opening ceremony on Tuesday for the Chinese National
Exhibition at the Crocus Expo exhibition center in Moscow.?(President Hu's Russia Tour)
"The Chinese National Exhibition in Russia is the largest ever
overseas display of Chinese culture and economic development, which
is held abroad in the name of the country," Hu said in his address
to the ceremony.
The exhibition, one of the most significant events to be held
during the Year of China in Russia, not only showcases the splendid
culture and history of China, but also reflects the achievements
and successes of China's reform and opening-up policy, Hu
added.
Hu pointed out that the exhibition is an event that will carry
forward the tradition of friendship between the two peoples, and it
serves as a platform for enhancing cooperation between the two
countries.
Putin spoke highly of the exhibition in his speech, saying that
"the exhibition would help Russian people understand China's
current capabilities of production and technology, so as to not
only increase the bilateral trade volume, but improve the quality
of cooperation as well."
"The theme of the exhibition -- Win-win cooperation and
Harmonious Development -- matches the current Sino-Russian
strategic partnership of cooperation perfectly. For Russia, China
has always been and remains one of the most important economic
partners in the world," said Putin.
The four-day exhibition, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce
of China, covers over 30 industries ranging from energy to home
appliances, and more than 15,000 kinds of products were exhibited
in an area of 20,000 square meters at the expo center.
In connection with the exhibition, Chinese and Russian
enterprises signed 21 agreements and contracts of US$4.3 billion
after the opening ceremony.
(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2007)
