BEIJING, March 13. /TASS/. The second Russia-China EXPO will take place in Harbin by the yearend and will coincide with a meeting of prime ministers, Russia’ s trade representative in China Alexey Gruzdev told reporters on Friday.
"EXPO is an event, where Russia and China are equal partners. This unique platform for establishment of direct contacts between entrepreneurs helps in eliminating the current misbalance of information in our trade relations," he said. The event "favours offering effective management solutions."
The Russian side reports that at the first EXPO the countries signed memorandums and agreements worth about $3 billion.
"Thus, came the decision to organize the second event of the kind in Harbin. Yesterday [on Thursday, March 12] China’s ministry of commerce hosted consultations on organization of the event, and the meeting launched the process of preparations for it."
The Russian trade representative in China said the countries agreed the EXPO will coincide with the 20th regular meeting of prime ministers, which is scheduled for late 2015.
"Exact dates are still to be advised, but now we can say the exhibition will take place either in November or in December, 2015," he said. "The exhibition will last for five days: for the first two days only specialists will be working there, and during following three days the public will be invited to visit exhibition stands."
The Russian exposition will be organized in a central pavilion of the exhibition center.
"This year, we are paying special attention to the business program. We have already begun discussing possible events: we have many ideas already," he said. "The final initiatives will be presented later for further approval of the two countries’ governments."
EXPO is upgraded from the China Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair, which has been held for consecutive 24 years. It is an important cooperation project on exhibition industry between China and Russia. EXPO is an innovative, open and international large-scale exhibition, which is also an international exhibition platform built by China and Russia. The two sides will give a full play to their respective advantages to invite more businessmen to participate in the event and to visit the exhibition. EXPO focuses on effective matchmaking of mega enterprises and big projects, provides more opportunities for communication and cooperation, promotes multilateral and multi-fields deep cooperation.
In 2014, about 280,000 people from 65 countries visited the first EXPO. Russia was represented by heads of twelve authorities and over 30 regions, as well as experts from leading state corporations. Over 100 companies participated in the event.