RUSSO-CHINESE ECONOMIC FORUM CONSIDERS WAYS TO BOOST INTERREGIONAL COOPERATION

BEIJING, April 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and China need to expand their economic cooperation and ensure long-term trade partnership. Such is the conclusion made by a Russo-Chinese economic forum, "Russia-China Interregional Cooperation: Economy, Trade, Investment." Addressing the forum, Vladimir Gusev, Vice Chair of the Committee for Economics, Trade and Investment in the Federation Council, or Russia's upper house of parliament, emphasized the importance of developing an infrastructure to enable trade activity, one that would bring together officials representing banks, insurance companies, information organizations, and judicial agencies.

Gusev also pointed out that the two countries needed to improve transportation services for bilateral trade and to use quality control and certification tests more extensively.

Sergei Tsyplakov, Russian Trade Representative to China, spoke for the creation of a trade mechanism to support mutual visits by regional delegates and to help promote cooperation between large corporations of the two countries.

Chen Haosu, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, noted that along with cooperation at the national level, the sides are showing more and more interest in interregional contacts.

The Russo-Chinese Forum for Interregional Cooperation, set up in 1995 by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and a similar Russian center, brings together MPs, members of the business community, scientists, and diplomats. It has been held for a ninth time this year, with more than a hundred delegates in attendance.