April 2, 2014. The People's Republic of China is interested in the delivery of processed meat and dairy products via a direct flight from Yekaterinburg to Harbin. The cooperation prospects were discussed at Sverdlovsk Region Minister for International and Foreign Economic Ties Andrei Sobolev and Harbin Trade Bureau Deputy DG, the Ministry's website states.

'A direct Harbin-Yekaterinburg flight loaded with goods ordered by local residents over the Internet is operated daily, while the return flight usually goes back nearly empty. We would like to take the advantage of this fact and consider the possibility of delivering some foods from Sverdlovsk Region on a regular basis. We are interested in launching another freight flight and organizing free customs zones for the storage of goods,' said the Chinese official; he added that Harbin was planning on organizing a white goods exhibition/fair in Yekaterinburg in October.

Andrei Sobolev said this sounded promising. The minister also commented on Sverdlovsk Region's great potential as Russia's largest distribution hub.

'Our constituency is currently Russia's third largest in terms of retail trade and fourth largest in terms of wholesale trade volumes. I believe the negotiations taking place at exhibition sites such as the Harbin Fair and Innoprom will make our cooperation more efficient,' the minister said.

The People's Republic of China is one of Sverdlovsk Region's primary trade partners: in 2013, the goods turnover amounted to $663m.