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At the invitation of the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, the President of the Russian Federation, Mr Dmitry Medvedev, will lead a business delegation on a two-day official visit to Hong Kong on April 16.
Mr Tsang will meet the President in a bilateral meeting before hosting an official luncheon for him on April 17 at Government House.
Mr Medvedev is the first Russian President to visit the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
"During my visit to Moscow last August, I invited Mr Medvedev to visit Hong Kong with a business delegation. I am very glad that the visit is realised within such a short span of nine months. It will be a big boost to our bilateral relationship," Mr Tsang said.
The bilateral relationship between Hong Kong and Russia has been growing fast in recent years. Since 2006, the annual bilateral trade has grown at an average rate of 25 per cent. Last year, it surged by more than 60 per cent compared to 2009. Russian tourists have been granted visa-free access to Hong Kong since mid 2009. Last year, 87 000 Russian visitors came to Hong Kong, doubling the figure of 2009.
Financial co-operation between the two places is also increasing. Last year saw the first listing of a Russian company in Hong Kong.
Ends/Friday, April 8, 2011
Issued at HKT 13:07
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