Perm authorities discussed possible cooperation with the Chinese City of Hohhot

Photo by Alexandra Mikheicheva

The Perm administration pays great attention to the development of partnerships with cities in Russia and foreign countries. For instance, since 2006 Perm has been twinned with Qingdao in China. In addition, the possibility of establishing partnerships with Changzhou and Zunyi is being discussed.

The authorities of Perm discussed possible areas of cooperation with representatives of the People's Government of the City of Hohhot. The meeting was attended by Alexander Molokovskikh, Chief of Staff of the Perm Administration, specialists from the City Hall, and Yuri Markov, General Director of the Perm Pulp and Paper Company. The meeting was held in the format of a video conference.

During the meeting, colleagues from Hohhot spoke about the industrial potential of their city. The Hohhot urban district has an oil refinery, dairy factories, and packaging plants. Hohhot is home to the China Hexi Chemical and Machinery Corporation, and is home to Inner Mongolia University, the region's largest university. The city also has the Inner Mongolia Museum, which exhibits dinosaur remains, household items and nomadic artwork, including contemporary artworks.

Alexander Molokovskikh, Chief of Staff of the Perm Administration, told his colleagues about the close and longstanding cooperation between Perm and the People's Republic of China. For example, in the autumn of 2022 Perm hosted the City Forum "Perm-East. There was a TV bridge with Chinese schoolchildren, and seminars and master classes were held during the Forum. The Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Kazan addressed the participants of the Forum online.

"The Perm administration pays great attention to the development of partnerships with major cities of the Russian Federation and foreign countries. We are ready to expand contacts and discuss cooperation with the Hohhot Government. For instance, to consider the possibility of receiving in Perm a delegation of entrepreneurs from Hohhot, to study the needs of your enterprises and businesses together with the Perm Chamber of Commerce and Industry and to prepare a business exchange with potential partners. I hope that we will be able to build joint and profitable cooperation in education, culture, sports, business," said Alexander Molokovskikh.

Not only the city authorities are establishing foreign contacts with partners, but also the city's enterprises. One of them is the Perm Pulp and Paper Company, which has been successfully cooperating with Chinese partners for many years, including partners from Hohhot.

"The company's activities are closely connected with the supply of equipment from China. The key partner in this direction is a company from Hohhot. As part of the production modernisation we have purchased complexes of technological equipment. Today we carry out some joint projects to modernize production, which is aimed at improving the quality of products. Within the framework of expansion of partnership and further development, a business trip of the company's delegation to the People's Republic of China, including the city of Hohhot, is planned in the near future. I am sure that the interaction between the authorities and entrepreneurs of our cities will lead to further development of friendly and economic relations between us," said Yury Markov, General Director of Perm Pulp and Paper Company Group.

The representatives of the Hohhot People's Government stressed that they look forward to a long and fruitful cooperation with Perm and further discussions on cooperation proposals.