Russia-China business ties pushed

Saratov Region Gov. Dmitrii Ayatskov is part of an official Russian delegation, headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, now visiting China.

As learned by Rosbalt from the regional press committee, the delegation is taking part in a meeting of the Union of Heads of Governments of Member-States of the Shanghai Organization for Cooperation. The delegation includes representatives of more than 50 Russian businesses, including Yukos, United Energy Systems-Russia, Russian Aluminium, RUSIA-Petroleum, (Saratov) and others, as well as representatives of the Foreign Trade Bank, Foreign Economy Bank and Ingostrakh. Besides Ayatskov, the delegation includes the governors of the Amur and Khabarovsk Regions, the Jewish Autonomous District and Primorye.

The governors met yesterday with the governors of Chinese provinces that border on Russia, including the governor of Khubei Province, with which Saratov has long had business dealings. The Russian delegation was to meet Wednesday with Peking business circles.

As announced by the regional press committee, the meetings are concerned with development of ties in the aircraft industry, machine-building and trolleybus manufacture as well as in investments in agriculture and construction. Saratov firms are taking part.

A plenary session of the council is set for Wednesday in Peking.