The Sino-Russian bilateral trade volume in 2005 has registered 29.1 billion US dollars, up 37 percent from that in 2004, said Sun Yongfu, director of the European Affairs Department of China's Ministry of Commerce on Jan. 24.

Addressing the press conference of the 17th Harbin Economic and Trade Fair of China, Sun said that the growth of Sino-Russia trade volume has set a historic new high last years, and the leaders from both countries were optimistic about the fulfillment of 60 billion to 80 billion US dollars bilateral trade volume by 2010 if the trade continue to develop at such a speed.

Being the largest province in terms of Sino-Russian economic and trade cooperation, Heilongjiang province has achieved totally 5.68 billion US dollars in trade with Russia, accounting for some 20 percent of the nation's total. The annual Harbin Economic and Trade Fair has become a key platform for economic and trade cooperation between the two neighbours.

The year of Russia in 2006 is believed to be an unprecedented opportunity for the economy and trade between the two. There will be some 25 to 30 economic and trade activities, including some national level activities, such as high-level Sino-Russian industrial and commercial forum.

By People's Daily Online