Russia-China trade grows 56 percent in January-September - Putin

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23/11 Tass 163

ST. PETERSBURG, November 23 (Itar-Tass) - Trade between Russia and
China grew by 56 percent in January-September amounting to 42 billion US
dollars, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at the talks in the
extended format with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on Tuesday.
"As for trade and economic relations, they have stood the test of the
crisis," he said. "Over nine months of the current year, trade turnover
grew by 56 percent and amounted to 42 billion US dollars."
"The volume of trade in some kinds of goods grew considerably," Putin
went on to say, adding that there was an 83-percent growth in timber and a
40-percent growth in supplies of electric power.
"Russian-Chinese strategic partnership is a major factor for the
strengthening of stability and security in the world and in the
Asia-Pacific Region," Putin added. He said relations between the two
countries "don't depend on external conjuncture, and develop dynamically
in all spheres - politics, economy, science, education and culture".
"I am confident that today's talks and joint work will give another
powerful impetus to the development of interstate relations," he summed
up. Besides, Putin noted that a ceremony closing the Chinese Season in
Russia and the Russian Season in China would be held on Wednesday. He
stressed that these seasons had been successful and thanked everybody
taking part in them.
Wen Jiabao, for his part, noted that "considerable progress in
cooperation between Russia and China" has been reached over the past year.
According to him, constant summit-level contacts let the two countries
coordinate their policies.
"China and Russia support each other in different issues, including
those that concern sovereignty, and thus they ensure security in the
region and in the world," the Chinese prime minister noted.
He urged the two countries to boost efforts in order to ensure
stability in the border regions.
-0-zhe/kud