Interview: China-Russia Expo drives practical cooperation, says Moscow gov't minister

MOSCOW, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The China-Russia Expo, now in its ninth edition, is an important platform to build long-term partnerships and deepen cooperation between the two countries, a senior Moscow city government official said.

This year's China-Russia Expo, which ends on Thursday, is being held in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. Anatoly Garbuzov, Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Department of Investment and Industrial Policy, told Xinhua that Moscow has sent 27 companies to participate in this year's expo, covering fields such as photonics and pharmaceuticals.

He noted that China is a major trading partner for Moscow, with about half of the products manufactured in the Russian capital being exported to China.

During his trip to China last year, Garbuzov visited industrial clusters and tech parks in Beijing.

Noting that the Chinese operation model functions as a complete urban unit incorporating social services, he said the Moscow authorities are influenced by the Chinese experience in planning their special economic zones, not only creating advanced industrial infrastructure and modern factories but also designating spaces for leisure and social facilities.

"In a world where it's tempting to buy everything abroad because it's easier, faster, and requires no investment, China's economic miracle commands great respect," Garbuzov noted.

Garbuzov added that Moscow is deepening cooperation with China within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. These interactions keep the city updated on cutting-edge projects and prompt the localization of related technologies, he said.