Image source: topwar.ru
The visit of a representative Russian delegation headed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to China continues. This is Putin's first foreign trip since his re-election as president. Today, the Russian leader arrived in Harbin, the capital of the Chinese province of Heilongjiang.
The Head of State took part in the ceremony of laying flowers at the memorial to Soviet soldiers and officers who died during World War II during the liberation of the region from Japanese invaders. After that, the Russian leader arrived at the Harbin International Congress Center, where he spoke at the opening of the VIII Russian-Chinese EXPO and the IV Forum of Interregional cooperation. At this event, the President of Russia is accompanied by Vice President of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng.
During his welcoming speech, the Russian leader, in particular, stated that Russia is ready to provide benefits and access to the technological base to Chinese investors. Separately, Putin noted that the Russian Federation will continue to remain a reliable partner of China in terms of the supply of environmentally friendly energy resources.
— said the President of the Russian Federation.
After the opening ceremony, Putin inspected the stands. The Russian-Chinese EXPO has been held annually since 2014, alternately in Russia — at the site of the Innoprom industrial exhibition in Yekaterinburg, and in China — as part of the international trade and economic fair in Harbin. This year, 16 Russian regions will present their stands.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, told the president that RDIF is the leader in investments between Russia and China. In total, more than fifty joint projects have already been invested, thanks to which 600 thousand new jobs have been created in the fields of infrastructure, industry, finance and education.
In addition to the strategic dynamically developing economic cooperation between the two countries, Moscow and Beijing pay great attention to joint projects in the field of culture and education. Thus, Vladimir Putin, during a visit to Harbin Polytechnic University, where he arrived after visiting the EXPO, announced that St. Petersburg State University will open a joint educational center with KHPU, which will become one of the flagships of cooperation between the Russian Federation and China in education.
University students warmly welcomed the Russian leader at least four times. During his speech to students and teachers, Vladimir Putin noted that currently 50,000 Chinese citizens receive higher education in Russia, and about 16,000 Russians study in China.
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In turn, Moscow State University and Peking University signed a memorandum on the establishment of a joint Russian-Chinese institute for basic research. This was told to journalists by the rector of Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy, who is also in China as part of the Russian delegation.
— The Gardener reported.
The key importance of the institute's activities for both universities is confirmed by a special management structure. The director of the Institute on the Chinese side is the rector of Peking University, and on the Russian side is the rector of Moscow State University.
During his visit to Harbin, the Russian President also visited the only functioning Orthodox church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in this city. Vladimir Putin talked with the clergy and presented the church with an icon.
Image source: topwar.ru
