Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is due to meet Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen at Government House today as part of the first visit to Hong Kong by a major foreign head of state in more than a decade.
Medvedev arrived last night after being hosted by President Hu Jintao during the BRIC nations' summit at the Boao Forum for Asia on Hainan Island .
BRIC includes Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Growing bilateral investment and trade as well as possible crime and corruption co-operation are expected to be on the agenda in talks and lunch with Medvedev and his delegation, which includes Russian businessmen. He is due to depart mid-afternoon.
Medvedev's aides spoke ahead of the visit of considerable room for growth in the China-Russia relationship, with the Interfax news agency quoting Sergei Prikhodko describing 'an atmosphere of close partnership between Moscow and Beijing' and 'Hong Kong's growing attention to the possibility of a mutually beneficial partnership with Russia'. Hong Kong's rich experience in fighting crime and corruption would also be of interest to Russia, he said.
Hong Kong officials have been quietly expanding ties with eastern European nations generally, highlighted by Tsang's visit to Moscow last August, when he formally invited the Russian President to the SAR. Moscow, meanwhile, has been eyeing Hong Kong as part of a broader commercial and diplomatic push underscoring its ambitions as an East Asian power. They also want to lift Moscow's status as a major financial centre.
