Pres calls on Hong Kong businessmen to cooperate with Russia areas

HONG KONG, April 17 (Itar-Tass) - President Dmitry Medvedev called on
Hong
Kong businessmen to participate in programmes, dealing with
cooperation with East Siberian and Far Eastern regions of the Russian
Federation as well as in preparation for the APEC summit in Vladivostok in
2012.
"The launching of joint economic and investment projects is among the
near priorities," Medvedev said, speaking at the luncheon with business
quarters in Hong Kong. "Above all, in such industries at hi-tech
engineering, energy-saving technologies and alternative sources of energy.
"Hong Kong businessmen can participate in implementing the programme
for cooperation between regions of Russian East Siberia and Far East and
North-Eastern China, which was prepared for the period between 2009 and
2018 as well as in programmes for the development of Russian regions,
including for preparation of our country for the APEC summit."
The meeting of APEC leaders will take place in Vladivostok in autumn
2012.
"A vast field for cooperation opens in explorations and development of
advanced technologies. It'd like to mention here also such a promising
ground as the innovation centre of Skolkovo," the Russian president
claimed.
"The practice of Hong Kong companies on protection of patent rights
and commercialisation of scientific discoveries is of great importance for
us. Hong Kong's rich experience could help to establish an international
financial centre in Moscow," the president noted.
"Russian companies actively and successfully enter the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange. Our RUSAL Company and some other companies which are bracing (to
float their shares on the exchange) have shown a good example of floating
stocks on this quickly growing ground.
In turn, head of the Xianggang Special Administrative Region Donald
Tseng called the appearance of the first Russian company on the Hong Kong
Stock Exchange "a salient event".
"Now two companies of the Russian origin floated their shares on the
local exchange - RUSAL and IRC. I hope that more Russian companies will
float their shares on the Hong Kong exchange," Tseng said.