Mr Zhukov said that the priority sector of investment cooperation between Russia and China was energy and the major oil companies of the two countries are engaged in investment cooperation.
Russia will become a major supplier of energy to China within 15 years, the Deputy Prime Minister believes. On the other hand, the Governments of Russia and China in their planning "emphasise the supplies of machines and timber processing".
Speaking about the prospects of trade and economic cooperation, Mr Zhukov expressed confidence that Chinese investors and builders would take a very active part in the preparations for the Sochi Olympic Games. "Chinese companies are showing a keen interest in the construction of infrastructure in Russia, and many of them are world leaders with great experience in building roads, bridges and other facilities, and they build well and quickly," the Deputy Prime Minister noted. "We would like Chinese companies to take part in tenders and auctions for contracts to build Olympic facilities," Mr Zhukov stressed. He said that the Chinese side was interested in this too.
The Russian Deputy Prime Minister also took part in launching the Year of the Russian Language in China. He said that the prospects of the study of the Russian language in China were good. "After the Year of Russia in China and the Year of China in Russia the relations, which were already developing rapidly, received a new impetus," he said. He also expressed confidence that the holding of the Russian Language Year in China and the Chinese Language Year in Russia would contribute to friendship and cooperation between the two countries and their peoples.