Russia will seek entry to the eastern grain market,Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev said at the Federation Council on October 27.
 
Japan and China are the largest grain buyers on the eastern market,he said.
 
China buys about six million tonnes of grain per year,but none from Russia. The leading grain suppliers of China are the United States,Canada and Australia,he said.
 
In the opinion of Gordeyev,this protectionist measure is harmful for Russian farmers. Russia announced the wish to enter the Chinese market at the negotiations,he said.
 
"Eastern nations are a serious market. I think that Siberia may double grain production with ploughing currently unused farmland [and thus enlarge eastward exports of grain]. That would add to the socioeconomic stability of rural territories," Gordeyev said.
 
He confirmed the earlier forecast of this year's grain exports potential of 20-25 million tonnes. At present Russia mostly supplies grain to Africa and the Middle East. The first grain deliveries to Iran and Iraq were made this year.