MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax) - Most members of the Russian government will take part in the negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to address a broad range of bilateral affairs, including energy and military-technical cooperation.
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told reporters about the items on the agenda of the presidential talks and the composition of delegations ahead of Xi's state visit to Russia.
"Given the high importance of this visit, we will have a broad representation. The narrow-format talks will involve Medvedev, Lavrov, Chernyshenko, Shoigu, Nabiullina, Shugayev and Borisov," he said at a press briefing.
The topics to be discussed at this round of negotiations can be deducted from the range of participants, Ushakov said.
Another six Russian deputy prime ministers will take part in the expanded format. "These are Chernyshenko, Golikova, Novak, Trutnev and Manturov," he said.
The negotiations will involve Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and presidential aide Maxim Oreshkin. "Ministers Shoigu, Reshetnikov, Savelyev, Siluanov and Likhachev will also" be there, he said.
According to Ushakov, heads of big Russian companies have been invited to a state dinner.
"The Chinese delegation is mostly made up of state officials and does not include businessmen, so we will maintain a certain parity," Ushakov said.
As to whether energy talks are on the agenda, he said, "Of course. All major topics of cooperation will naturally be touched upon. I have mentioned the range of persons, which makes this pretty clear. Once Novak takes part, then there will be energy, while the presence of Siluanov suggests financial issues."
Journalists asked Ushakov whether arms deliveries might be addressed at the negotiations. "You are asking such a straightforward question. I will tell you that military-technical cooperation will actually be discussed. Both Shoigu and Shugayev are invited to the negotiations," he said.