Russia seeks more Chinese investment and trade

Trade turnover is up 13.4%  on the same period, the first ten months of this year, while Russian exports to China have risen 12.7%.

'A positive growth trend in the two countries' trade remains, although not so significant as it had been over the last several years', said the ambassador. 

On direct Chinese investment to Russia, this reached $266 million from January to October 2012.

'This is, of course, absolutely not enough,' said Razov.

'Of late China has sharply boosted its investment activity in many regions of the world, but it is rather insignificant in Russia. 

'For instance, in 2011 China's non-financial direct investments in Russia made up a mere half percent of the total volume of China's foreign investments. 

'We persistently persuade Chinese partners to focus in the two countries - economic interaction on expanding mutual investments.'

This comes as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao this week visits Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin and premier Dmitry Medvedev. 

The Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui said the trip will deepen mutual trust, enhance pragmatic cooperation in all fields, and consolidate the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.

Ambassador Razov said that the relationship between the two countries was not affected by the changes in political leadership in both countries, with Putin's return to the Kremlin, and the new-look at the helm of the Communist Party in China.

'This is an added proof that Russia-China interaction is of stable and non-opportunistic character while the high intensiveness of contacts at all levels has again demonstrated the striving of the sides to maintain the momentum of development in bilateral interaction', he said.