OREANDA-NEWS. October 12, 2011. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation  (RF CCI) hosted the Russian-Taiwanese Forum within a Russian visit of a representative delegation of the Taiwanese-Russian Association and the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (Taiwan).    RF CCI Vice-President Georgy Petrov, head of the Moscow Office of the Taipei-Moscow Coordinating Commission for Economic and Cultural Cooperation Antonio Chen, Chairman of the Moscow-Taipei Coordinating Commission for Economic and Cultural Cooperation Oleg Lobov, Chairman of the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (Taiwan) Chung-yu Wang, Chairman of the Taiwanese-Russian Association and the Taiwan National Federation of Industries Preston V. Chen, representatives of the Russian and Taiwanese business communities and experts attended the forum.

Georgy Petrov opened and chaired the event; he said that the Chamber was hosting the fourth Russian-Taiwanese forum – a traditional floor for the discussion of Russia-Taiwan cooperation. The meeting of Russian and Taiwanese businessmen was dedicated to the interaction in high technologies, petrochemistry and investments, which met the priorities of Russian economic development focused on innovations. In the words of Georgy Petrov, Russia-Taiwan trade neared USD 3.4 billion in 2010. The positive dynamics was retained in the first half of this year, and trade grew by 22%. There are grounds to believe that trade would exceed USD 4 billion in 2011, RF CCI Vice-President Georgy Petrov stated. The main driving force of the bilateral interaction is the Russian academic center in Tomsk. Cooperation is close in space physics and technologies, radio technology, electronics, information and telecom technologies and communications. Nano-technologies are a promising area of the joint work, where, in the words of Georgy Petrov, scientific potentials of Russia and Taiwan may replenish each other. Cooperation is being launched in the production of electric vehicles, spare parts and components necessary for the production of that type of transport.

 Petrov also noted positive dynamics in investment cooperation. The amount of amassed joint investments reached USD 4.3 billion in 2010, which might be an additional incentive for Taiwanese companies to enter the Russian investment market. They may be drawn by energy, electronic, aviation and chemical industries, mining, biotechnologies and transport infrastructure. No less important is the joint work in Russian regions, especially in the Far East and Siberia, Georgy Petrov said. There are vast prospects for Taiwanese companies in large-scale projects preparing for the APEC Vladivostok summit 2012 and the Sochi Winter Olympic Games 2014.

 In the end of his speech, RF CCI Vice-President Georgy Petrov lauded the contribution to the development of the bilateral relations by the Moscow-Taipei and Taipei-Moscow Coordinating Commissions for Economic and Cultural Cooperation, the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (Taiwan) and the Taiwanese-Russian Association as reliable partners of the RF CCI. He wished the delegates fruitful work, strengthening of existent contacts and establishment of new ones, and interaction between Russian and Taiwanese businessmen.

In his reply speech head of the Moscow Office of the Taipei-Moscow Coordinating Commission for Economic and Cultural Cooperation Antonio Ts. S. Chen thanked the RF CCI for holding the forum on a high level and said that following the world financial and economic crisis 2008 Taiwan chose the Russian Federation as its main trade and economic partner. According to information of the Taiwanese side, bilateral trade exceeded USD 7-8 billion in the recent years, including commodities transported through continental China. This is not the upper limit,  Antonio Ts. S. Chen said. There are conditions for further trade growth. Taiwan and Russia have a big potential for the development of trade and bilateral cooperation, Antonio Ts. S. Chen said. He wished successful work to the forum delegates.

Chairman of the Moscow-Taipei Coordinating Commission for Economic and Cultural Cooperation Oleg Lobov reminded the delegates that next year would witness the 20th anniversary of economic and cultural cooperation between Russia and Taiwan. Bilateral relations are developing successfully, they are broadening and deepening. Foreign trade grows year after year. The Russian market receives high-tech commodities from Taiwan, which are in demand by the Russians, Oleg Lobov said. The current Russian-Taiwanese Forum is a new step in the development of bilateral economic and investment cooperation, Oleg Lobov said. He also touched upon the opening of direct air traffic between Russia and Taiwan. The idea deserves support because such air traffic will have a substantial influence on the development of bilateral relations, Oleg Lobov said.

RF CCI Vice-President Georgy Petrov said that the Chamber also supported the initiative of direct air traffic.

Chairman of the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (Taiwan) Chung-yu Wang was the next speaker. He said that a high-ranking delegation from Taiwan representing the leading national industries was present at the forum. The delegates are interested in the development of trade and the establishment of lasting business contacts with Russian entrepreneurs. In the opinion of Chung-yu Wang, the Taiwanese experience of the solution of transport problems of megalopolises and the construction of highways may be of interest and use for Russian specialists. He also supported the idea of direct air traffic between the two states as a factor promoting rapprochement and developing trade, economic and business relations.

Chairman of the Taiwanese-Russian Association and the Taiwan National Federation of Industries Preston V. Chen expressed the hope that contacts with Russian colleagues at the forum will bring practical results. He said that Russia and Taiwan had many talents and substantial scientific and technical potentials. It is necessary to exchange knowledge and experience for the establishment of broader and lasting bilateral trade, economic and cultural relations, Preston V. Chen said. Taiwan is interested in Russian investments and invites Russian companies to joint projects on the domestic market, Preston Chen said.

Upon the introductory meeting, two sessions were held, “The Fourth Russian-Taiwanese Forum” and “The First Russian-Taiwanese Forum of Corporate Executives “Cooperation of Russia and Taiwan in Petrochemistry and High Technologies”.  Businessmen held bilateral negotiations.