Russian official: Belt and Road Initiative ‘important’

Ding Feng, deputy chief of Anhui Conch Group, says Russia offers good opportunities for Chinese investors. [Qin Dachun / for China Daily]

Ding Feng, deputy chief of Anhui Conch Group --- the world’s No 2 cement maker, said his company’s plant in Ulyanovsk will soon open, urging Chinese firms to take the good chance of the “Belt and Road” Initiative to find development opportunities in Russia, which has a strong desire to lure foreign input.

Currently, Russia is the world’ s No 1 in natural gas and iron ore reserves, and ranks No 2 in coal reserves, and its 28 special economic zones can provide better policies, offering good chances for Chinese investors, Ding said.

Wang Xin, chief of Anhui’s Foreign Affairs Office, said presently, there are 12 Anhui companies investing in Russia and 34 Russian firms operating in Anhui, while trade between Russia and Anhui reached $900 million last year.

He said future trade between Russia and Anhui will have “great potentials”.

Dmitry Ivanov, representative of Perm’s Agency of Investment and Foreign Economic Affairs, said Perm’s tourism, forestry, medical, cultural and human resources all call for more outside investors.

Currently, the region has cultural exchanges with Anhui University, he said.

Sergei Kapralov, deputy minister of Penza’s Ministry of Investment Development and Foreign Economic Activity, noted his region now has three industrial zones, and foreign businesses in Penza enjoy much help.

So far, Penza’s industry and commerce chamber has already conducted cooperation with Anhui branch of China Council for the Promotional of International Trade, he said.

Vladimir Vasilyev, chairman of International Relations Development from Leningrad’s Vyborg District, noted they are fully open-minded and would extend their warm welcome in cooperating with “Chinese friend.”