March 28, 2007 at 6:42 am · Filed under Trade
The 21 contracts include an agreement by state-controlled Russian oil company Rosneft to supply jet fuel to China as well as long-term export contracts for Russian steel products.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao oversaw the deals today on the second day of the Chinese president’s visit to Russia.
Earlier today, Putin and Hu opened a large Chinese trade fair in Moscow.
Nearly 200 Chinese companies are showcasing their products at the fair, said to be China’s biggest ever in a foreign country.
“The products exhibited here represent [China’s] most significant achievements and provide a truly unique opportunity to get acquainted with the successes of China’s policy of reform and openness,” Putin said at the trade fair.
“We find particularly interesting those sections dedicated to innovative and information technologies, aviation, space industry, nuclear energy, as well as China’s achievements in electronics, machine-building and other areas,” Putin added.
Hu’s visit is aimed at cementing growing economic and political ties. After talks on March 26, the two presidents pledged to further develop energy cooperation and also reiterated their aligned positions on Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programs.
Later today, Hu, who is on a three-day visit, travels to Russia’s oil rich republic of Tatarstan.
(Interfax, AFP)
Article Source: rferl
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March 27, 2007 at 1:59 am · Filed under Trade
THE Royal Air Force yesterday unveiled its “Ralph Lauren-style” fashion range for men and women.
It said the 50-item collection would help raise the RAF’s profile.
A bikini decorated with a pink and blue version of the RAF roundel, T-shirts and a leather flying jacket are included in the range.
Men’s garments carry RAF wings on the labels and the motto “rise above the rest”. The women’s clothes are labelled with the letters RAF in silver alongside a crown.
The collection goes on sale online from today and one “quintessentially British” high street chain is said to be interested in stocking it.
Prices range from £25 for T-shirts through to £60 for jeans and £150 for a flying jacket.
Group Captain Andy Turner, the RAF’s head of communications, said the launch was more about raising positive publicity for the RAF than making money. “It is a bit like Ralph Lauren, that sort of style of clothing. High-quality, developed with great taste and aiming at the centre of England in terms of psychology and type of people,” he said.
The British-designed clothes are manufactured in Europe and the Far East for London-based clothing firm JOI - the RAF’s commercial partner in the venture.
Squadron Leader Kev Harris, a spokesman for the RAF, added: “I think it is an excellent use of the RAF brand.”
Article Source: ScotsMan
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