KHABAROVSK, May 19. /TASS/. Trade turnover between Russia and China has reached $71 bln year-to-date, having lost 7.5% compared with the same period last year, Russian Trade Representative in China Alexey Dakhnovsky said.

"Last year trade turnover between our countries reached almost $245 bln. Russia was among five largest partners of the People’s Republic of China. This year trade turnover has started stably declining, having lost 7.5% in the first four months of this year compared with the same period last year, reaching $71 bln. Exports from Russia to China fell by 9%, while imports from China decreased by 5.3%," he said at the Russian-Chinese forum.

"I suggest that the explosive trade growth is a thing of the past. Trade will grow, but not with double digit rates as was the case previously. The fast trade growth has created a basis for more advanced cooperation in the industrial and technical area. The implementation of projects in this field usually requires more time, though they are less exposed to the influence of the environment in particular," Dakhnovsky explained.