Russia and China are planning to sign 17 bilateral agreements in various spheres during the Russian prime minister’s visit to China on November 9-10, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov is quoted by RIA Novosti news agency.

Zhukov, who is currently on a visit to China, said the two countries will sign an intergovernmental agreement on Russian-Chinese border regulations and an agreement on mutual investment, among the most important documents.

The sides will also sign a protocol on the conclusion of the development of the program on bilateral trade cooperation for 2006-2010.

Zhukov said bilateral trade approached $30 billion in 2005, and grew by 25%, year-on-year since the beginning of 2006. He said the bilateral trade volume could double by 2009.

“If we are going to increase the trade turnover with these rates, I am quite sure we may reach this volume [$60 billion] as early as in 2009,” the deputy PM said.

He also said Russia and China will sign an agreement on mid-term and long-term cooperation in nuclear power industry.

Russia’s Atomstroiexport is building the Tianwan NPP in eastern China’s port city of Lianyungang, featuring improved VVER-1000 reactors and K-100-6/3000 turbo-generators, under a Russian-Chinese agreement signed in 1992.

“The first reactor block [2 reactors] will become fully operational in March, may be even earlier,” Zhukov is quoted by RIA Novosti.

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