Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova co-chaired the 27th session of the China-Russia Committee on Humanities Cooperation in St. Petersburg on Monday, vowing to deepen humanities cooperation.
Shen said Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the opening ceremony of the China-Russia Years of Education in May and delivered speeches, demonstrating the high importance they attach to humanities cooperation.
Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the two sides have continued to broaden the scope of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, explore innovative forms of cooperation and new areas of collaboration, achieving a series of new results, Shen said.
Noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, Shen called on both sides to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state.
She also called for advancing key projects under the framework of the China-Russia Years of Education, deepening humanities cooperation and strengthening bilateral and multilateral coordination to contribute to the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.
Golikova spoke highly of the achievements in Russia-China people-to-people and cultural exchanges, expressing Russia's readiness to work with China to continuously deepen and expand practical cooperation in various fields of humanities and write a new chapter in bilateral friendship.
During the meeting, Shen and Golikova witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in relevant fields.
China, Russia vow to deepen humanities cooperation
Chinese manufacturers presented machinery, components and complete production-line solutions to overseas buyers seeking factory upgrades as the Canton Fair's first phase closed in the provincial capital of Guangdong in south China on Monday.
The first phase of the 140th China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, focused on advanced manufacturing.
In one exhibition hall, companies demonstrated large computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools, robotic arms and industrial 3D printers arranged around different manufacturing processes.
At a booth run by GSK CNC Equipment, an ultrafine metal sample made on a precision machine drew the attention of overseas buyers.
"Each needle is just 0.05 millimeters in diameter, and there are 127 needles in total. It is the algorithms of our CNC system and the high performance of our servo motors that allowed us to make them precisely on a machine tool, just like turning an iron rod into a needle. We don't just sell products, but also offer complete solutions, including how to weld the components and design the entire system," said Qiu Xiaohua, deputy general manager of GSK CNC Equipment.
Among those inspecting the equipment was Armenian buyer Liliya Grigoryan, whose company operates a large factory.
"[It's] innovative, [with a] better system. And even in the future, we're planning to change all our machines into this kind of machines, hopefully [with help] from you to help our workers," Grigoryan said.
The exhibits gave buyers a chance to explore components, machinery and production-line solutions in one place, reflecting the strength of China's manufacturing supply chain. Polish buyer Jan Smith said his long-standing relationships with Chinese suppliers had evolved as their businesses grew.
"My supplier since 30 years, they become to be from a small, simple company, they become to be a huge company with R and D, with every system, with design, with automated production. So we are talking, like, together how to improve, and this really works," Smith said.
For some exhibitors, overseas business now extends beyond equipment sales to investment in factories and cooperation on technology. Nearly 20 percent of the more than 32,000 companies exhibiting at this year's fair have invested abroad, creating more than 200,000 jobs in host countries, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
The fair's second phase, focused on home products, is scheduled for Oct. 23 to 27.
Chinese manufacturing solutions attract Canton Fair buyers
