Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the MAKS 2017 air show in Zhukovsky, Russia, on Tuesday. SERGEI KARPUKHIN/REUTERS

MOSCOW - The 13th International Aviation and Space Salon, known by its Russian acronym MAKS, will facilitate further cooperation in the aerospace industry and promote Russian products both at home and abroad, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

"An extensive exposition will be deployed. Leading Russian and foreign companies will present their achievements," Putin said in a speech on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the MAKS 2017 air show, which will run until Sunday in the city of Zhukovsky on the southeastern outskirts of Moscow.

About 800 aviation and aerospace companies from 26 countries and regions are showcasing thousands of products and design at the air show and look for cooperation opportunities.

"Conferences and seminars will take place on topical issues of the industry development. A number of negotiations and signing of major contracts are planned," Putin said.

"We expect that all this will contribute to the strengthening of production cooperation, the growth of international cooperation, the promotion of Russian products in the domestic and foreign markets. We have something to offer," the president said.

More than 73,000 professionals have already signed up for a visit to the show, and the total number of visitors is expected to reach hundreds of thousands, according to the organizing committee of the air show.

Founded in 1993, MAKS is a biennial event aimed at displaying Russian aerospace-related high-tech products and promoting business cooperation with foreign partners

The event usually lasts for six days, exclusively accessible to research and development institutions, business organizations and the press in the first three days, and then open to the public for the rest of the time.

Xinhua