"Our target is to turn Russia into a regional core base for FAW's auto export," said Li Weidou, general manager of the FAW import and export company.

FAW exported more than 1,000 automobiles to Russia last year, the first year it delved into the Russian market. It mainly exported light-duty automobiles, small vehicles and medium and heavy-duty trucks. FAW will increase the export of small vehicles and auto spare parts to Russia this year.

Company sources said some Russian auto plants had expressed their readiness to cooperate with FAW in manufacturing cab, power assembly and spare parts.

FAW has stepped up its efforts to explore overseas markets in recent years, having exported more than 70,000 automobiles to over 70 countries and regions worldwide. FAW exported 14,256 autos last year, a rise of 63 percent on the previous year at a value of 148 million U.S. dollars.

Founded in the 1950s and dubbed the"cradle of China's auto industry", FAW currently leads the way in China's auto industry. It sold 983,000 automobiles and nabbed a sales income of 118.3 billion yuan(about 14.78 billion U.S. dollars) last year. Enditem