Chief Executive Edmund Ho and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Igor S. Ivanov, held a meeting today (29 July) during which both leaders expressed the will to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting with Mr. Ivanov, the Chief Executive said that Macao could serve as a platform for small-to-medium sized Russian enterprises since the SAR has maintained good relations with countries and regions in South East Asia.

Mr. Ivanov said that Macao could play an important part in the development of Russia's relationships with countries in the South East Asian Region. He admitted that such relationships were important to Russia. He also expressed the will to develop bilateral cooperation with Macao in tourism, culture and trade.

Mr. Ivanov arrived in Macao this afternoon after his visit to Korea. He was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander P. Losyukov, the Russian Ambassador to China, Igor A. Rogatchev, and the Consul General of Russia in Hong Kong and Macao, Konstantin Vnukov.