TOMSK, Jun 18 – RIA Tomsk. The governor of the Tomsk region Sergey Zhvachkin asked the ambassador of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the Russian Federation Li Hui who arrived in Tomsk on a visit to assist in solution of controversial issues with new investors of Asino TIC RusKitInvest, the correspondent of RIA Tomsk reports.
Earlier it was reported that in January 2017, Asino TIC (RusKitInvest) got a new investor – Hubei timber industry company "Fuhan" (People's Republic of China). In February 2018 representatives of the contract organizations of RusKitInvest held a picket in Asino with a demand to the authorities to influence the Chinese investor who accumulated more than 200 million rubles in debt to them. Later it was reported that some of the debts were paid. According to the regional administration, the remaining 110 million was planned to be paid in June.
The delegation of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Russia under the leadership of the Ambassador Li Hui works in the Tomsk region on June 17-18, 2018. According to the regional administration, in 2017 the trade turnover between the Tomsk region and China grew by almost 30% and exceeds 100 million rubles.
"Between Russia and China is developing a strategic partnership ... A significant amount of investment is coming to the Tomsk region from the PRC, more than 40 companies are working in the timber processing complex. However, as you know, problems appeared in Asino, due to the arrival of a new owner. I hope, with your participation these problems will be resolved", – Zhvachkin said at the meeting with the ambassador.
In turn, Chinese Ambassador Li Hui assured the Tomsk governor that the embassy will provide the necessary assistance to the Tomsk authorities to resolve the difficult situation at the RusKitInvest enterprise as soon as possible, and will also promote further cooperation between the provinces of the PRC and the Tomsk region.
"We see your interest and interest of your whole team in strengthening cooperation with China in various areas: in trade, economy, education. We are ready to support the development of cooperation with the Tomsk region", – Li Hui said.
Cooperation between the PRC and the Tomsk region is not limited to the timber industry, the meeting participants noted. Tomsk universities have more than 500 students from China, and Tomsk Confucius Institute is recognized as the best in the world. The governor stressed the importance of cooperation in the agro-industrial complex for the development of production of ecologically clean products, in particular in the sphere of wild plants processing.