I went to a dinner tonight with the Russian Ambassador to Australia, Alexander Blokhin. The photo doesn’t do him justice. He’s a likeable, jovial man, very intelligent and knowledgeable.
He was a deputy in the Russian parliament and was reportedly close to former President Boris Yeltsin. The current President Vladimir Putin appointed him Minister for Federation Affairs in 2000.
Mr Blokhin was the Ambassador to Belarus before being appointed to Canberra.
He is an engineer by background, and aged 57, is a very high ranking diplomat. Australia is honoured that he has been posted here.
Mr Blokhin spoke tonight about the export industry similarities between our countries and the growing bilateral trade, albeit from a low base. He said there is increasing co-operation between resources companies in the two countries.
He made some insightful comments about climate change and energy issues. I won’t repeat them here because they were off the record.
He said that President Putin is visiting Australia for the first time in September. Mr Blokhin’s presence here and President Putin’s visit signal a growing closeness in the relationship between Australia and Russia.
