Delegation from the Chinese city of Hohhot arrived in Perm

Photo by Vitaly Koksharov

The visit is  aimed at  getting  acquainted with the city and experiencing an active business and cultural program, Guests from China will see  the main attractions of the city renovated for  its 300th anniversary. A number of business meetings are also planned.

Perm - one of the Russian cities focused on prospects  of inter-municipal cooperation with the eastern partners.  China holds a leading position in the world economy, has a rich history and culture. Therefore, the city authorities are keen to cooperate with various cities in China.

The delegation from Hohhot includes  Deputy Mayor of the People’s Government Mr. Wang Xinyu, Chief of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hohhot Municipal Government Mrs Hou Zhihui, Hohhot’s Chief of Commerce Mr. Wang Baoping, and   representatives of Chinese businesses.

On August 15, within the framework of the delegation’s visit to the Perm Region’s capital, a meeting was held with the Acting Mayor of Perm Olga Andrianova.

– For our city, relations with China have always been among the priorities, and in modern conditions, this cooperation acquires even more relevance. I know that the Perm Pulp and Paper Company is actively working with companies in Hohhot. Of course, cooperation in the industrial and economic sphere is very important, but we also establish humanitarian partnership at the level of city administrations. I am convinced   that this visit will be a guarantee of long-term friendship of our two cities, - said Olga Andrianova during the meeting.

Guests from China in turn expressed gratitude for the hospitality and noted that the city of Perm made a good impression on them.

- More and more of our companies are interested in your products and are ready to invest in local business. Hohhot hopes to establish a twinning relationship with Perm. This will make it possible to develop cooperation not only in the economic sector, but also in the sphere of ecology and other directions. We are ready to invest in our cooperation. I believe that there are good reasons and prospects for this, - said Deputy Mayor of the People’s Government Hohhot Wang Xinyu.

After the meeting in the city administration, representatives of the People’s Republic of China visited the exhibition in the Perm State Art Gallery. Also   it is planned that the delegation will take a tour of  the iconic city facilities. They will visit the Memorial of the Ural Volunteer Tank Corps and the Soviet Army Boulevard which was renovated  as part of preparation for the city’s 300th anniversary. Pedestrian walkways, outdoor lighting, litter-bins and benches were installed, and the monument itself was put in order. During the visit, participants will visit the Theatre of the Young Spectator, the Soldatov Palace of Culture, see the large-scale improvement of the Esplanade quarter near the Monument to Heroes of the Front and Rear.

In addition, a number of business meetings will be held for the delegation participants - they will visit the Perm pulp and paper company, as well as meet with the management of the Perm Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Note that the interaction with Huh-Hoto in a number of areas has already begun. So, for example, as part of the business program of the city ecological festival “Nature of the city” held on June 2-3, Hohhot sent to Perm video materials on environmental topics that were demonstrated at the sites of the festival. In addition, in  the end of July, a group of students from Perm Lyceums No. 4 and No. 8 visited Hohhot to participate in an international summer camp and to work with partner schools.

Hohhot is not the only Chinese city with which the city government has built partnerships. Since 2006, Perm has been twinned with Qingdao, China. This summer the Perm delegation took part in the Forum of People’s Diplomacy of the SCO member states held in Qingdao. Perm became the only municipality of Russia invited to this status international event. In June, Perm entrepreneurs visited with Changzhou and Shanghai on a business mission. Cooperation with another Chinese city, Zunyi, is also growing.

- The development of foreign economic activity with China is one of our priorities. Last year the  trade volume  between the Perm Region  and China grew by 30% and amounted to $ 1.5 billion, which makes it possible to consider China one of the leading foreign trade partners of the Perm Region. Our local enterprises export fertilizers, chemical products, wood, pulp and paper products, fuel and energy products. We import mainly engineering products, metals and products from them. I am convinced that this is not the limit. The conditions of economic sanctions imposed on Russia do not only bring together   partners from friendly countries, but also spur closer cooperation, - noted Dmitry Makhonin, Governor of the Perm Region.