"It would appear correct to me to alter the structure towards increasing in this trade everything that is connected with high technologies," the Russian president said in an interview with Chinese media representatives ahead of his visit to China, scheduled for October 14-16.
Putin pointed to the high rates of trade growth between the two countries. He said that Russia and China would soon achieve a level of $20 billion and in the mid-term may reach the $60 billion mark. "These are absolutely achievable figures and realistic targets," the president said.
At the same time, the head of state emphasised that it should be a matter not only of increased trade, but also of the structure of economic cooperation between the two countries.
Speaking of a greater proportion of high technologies in the make-up of trade, the president pointed out that in this field the two countries have good experience of cooperation.
"What is needed is additional powerful stimuli in order that this cooperation should proceed at a more or less rapid pace," Putin said.
Russia wants Chinese investments to be put into the Russian economy first of all to develop hi tech areas. Putin said this as he replied to the question of Chinese media about a possible "breakthrough" in Moscow-Beijing talks on fuel and energy cooperation.
"We welcome the Chinese side's intention to invest 12 and more billion US dollars in the Russian economy. I repeat, we would like to see all these investments distributed in a sufficiently balanced fashion, meaning the future of our economic relations which, as I have already said and want to reiterate, should be aimed above all at progress in hi tech fields," the president said.
Putin said that Russia realises the full importance of energy. "We will welcome Chinese participation in this joint effort as well," the head of state stressed.
