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On 16 March 2006, a Latvian delegation headed by the State Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Ministry, Normans Penke, continued its visit to China. On 14 and 15 March, the delegation visited Zhangjiang High-Technology Park in Shanghai and the Finnish-Chinese Innovation Centre FINCHi whose task is to promote not only cooperative projects between Finland and China but also contacts on the global market. The operation of the centre is directed towards production processes in medicine and environment-friendly biotechnologies. Cooperation with the centre is also available to other partners of the region.
State Secretary Normans Penke also met with the President of the Shanghai Shipping Exchange company, Zhang Ye. During the meeting, both parties attested their interest for cooperation in logistics and shipping projects. Shanghai plans to become the world's largest re-loading and commercial centre by 2020.
During the meeting with the Deputy Mayor of Shanghai, Tang Dengjie, the interest of Latvian businessmen to enter the Chinese market and the most prospective areas for cooperation were pointed out. The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the China Chamber of International Commerce signed a cooperation agreement in 2005.
During the meeting with the Deputy Mayor of Shanghai, Tang Dengjie, the Latvian businessmen expressed their interest to enter the Chinese market and informed the Chinese officials about the most prospective areas for cooperation. In 2010, Shanghai will be hosting EXPO 2010 and Latvia was invited to participate in the exhibition.
During the visit to Shanghai, the delegation also had an informal meeting with Latvians who live and work in this most important city of China and of the entire East Asia region. At the Shanghai City Planning Exhibition Centre the Latvian delegation will be acquainted with the city's strategic development plans.
On 16 March, the officials of the Latvian and Chinese Foreign Ministries continued their political consultations at the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing.
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