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Chinese vice-premier arrives in Kazan during his working visit to RF

he Chinese delegation, consisting of 130 people led by Li, headed for the Kazan helicopter factory right from the airport

KAZAN, April 29 (Itar-Tass) — Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang arrived in the Tatarstan Republic on Sunday during his working visit to Russia. The high guest was welcomed by Tatarstan premier Ildar Khalikov at Kazan international airport.

According to a tradition, girls in national costumes presented the delegation head Tatar delicacies – chak-chak – right at the gangway. Li thanked the Tatarstan cabinet head for the warm reception.

Chinese vice-premier stays in Russia at the invitation of the federal government. President Dmitry Medvedev held a meeting with Li in Moscow on April 27. President-elect and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also had a meeting with the high Chinese guest.

This is the first official visit to Russia for Li after he started working at the cabinet and the second after a 20-year interval.

The Chinese delegation, consisting of 130 people led by Li, headed for the Kazan helicopter factory right from the airport. Guests inspect factory workshops, putting out multi-functional helicopters Mi-17 of various modifications and light copters Ansat. The factory will soon start making super-heavy choppers Mi-38 and super-light Aktai.

The enterprise mounted an economic exhibition specially for Chinese business quarters. The exhibition will show Tatarstan’s industrial potential – engineering, oil, petrochemical, information and other economic sectors. On display are promising projects for investments in the republic, including in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone.

The Tatarstan premier noted that China is among potential economic partners of the republic. According to statistical bodies, trade between Tatarstan and China topped 334.5 million US dollars in 2011.

Tatarstan supplies China with plastics, synthetic rubber, optical instruments and imports mechanical equipment, locomotives, street-cars, footwear and pharmaceutical goods.

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