Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his working program in China, with the second day of his state visit taking place in Harbin, the administrative center of Heilongjiang Province. Accompanied by Deputy Chairman of the People's Republic of China, Han Zheng, Putin's schedule includes several significant events.
Among the key activities, Putin will participate in the opening ceremony of the VIII Russian-Chinese Expo and the IV Russian-Chinese Forum on Interregional Cooperation. Yury Ushakov, the Russian President's aide for international affairs, stated that Putin will be joined by numerous members of the Russian delegation and representatives of Russian businesses, including the heads of over 20 Russian regions.
The Russian-Chinese Expo serves as a trade and industrial exhibition platform, fostering discussions on trade, economic and investment cooperation, technology exchange, and expanding contacts between Russian and Chinese regions. It is a crucial venue for interaction between Russian and Chinese businesses, facilitating direct dialogue and the conclusion of mutually beneficial agreements. The 2024 Expo, themed "Cooperation, Mutual Trust, Opportunities," will feature stands from 16 Russian regions and 13 Chinese regions, with participation from approximately 190 Chinese and 170 Russian companies.
Additionally, Putin will hold a brief meeting with Han Zheng and the leadership of Heilongjiang Province on the sidelines of the exhibition.
Visit to Harbin Polytechnic
Putin is also scheduled to visit Harbin Polytechnic University, which has extensive ties with Russian universities, including Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, and St. Petersburg State University. At the Polytechnic, Putin will tour the museum exposition, address students, graduate students, and professors, and answer their questions. Ushakov mentioned that the meeting will cover various topics, including those not directly related to Moscow-Beijing bilateral relations.
Following this, Putin will hold a traditional final conversation with journalists from the Kremlin pool who are covering his visit to China.
Other Program Highlights
The Russian President plans to lay flowers at the monument in the city center dedicated to Soviet soldiers who liberated northeast China from Japanese invaders during World War II. Additionally, Putin will visit the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the only functioning Orthodox church in Harbin.
Putin arrived in Harbin the previous evening from Beijing, where he concluded the first day of his visit. In Beijing, he held multiple rounds of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, spoke at a gala concert commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the opening of the Years of Culture between Russia and China, met with Premier Li Qiang of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, and made statements to the press alongside the Chinese leader. The heads of state also continued their discussions in an informal setting, which Putin noted as the most important part of the visit, covering the entire foreign policy agenda, including the situation in Ukraine.
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Photo: Ziang Guo/Unsplash
Based on materials from TASS