Partners seek to upgrade relations

"Improving the trade structure is on our agenda," Konstantin Vnukov, director of the Asian department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, was quoted by Xinhua as having said.

　　Official statistics show the turnover in China-Russia machinery and electrical products trade was $5.85 billion last year, with the exports from Russia being worth only $247 million.

　　Experts said that since China is now a member of the World Trade Organization and Russia expected to join it soon, the business imbalance would be set right to improve the trade and investment environment.

　　Before flying to the city of Kazan yesterday to continue his three-day state visit, Hu met Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and Chairman of the State Duma (lower house of parliament) Boris Gryzlov separately.