Russia's Rusal, China's Shandong to study aluminium joint venture

　　Rusal has signed a memorandum of understanding with Shandong Xinfa Group, one of China's largest private aluminium companies, detailing the study of future possible cooperation areas, including joint ventures in the aluminium industry, the Russian producer said Thursday.

　　Rusal and Shandong Xinfa have agreed to establish a joint work group over the next three months from the date of signing to study potential areas of cooperation. The parties will then examine the proposals from the work group until June 30, 2013, to identify cooperation projects which offer the greatest potential.

　　Preliminary examined opportunities between Rusal and Shandong Xinfa include the creation of Russian-based joint ventures in aluminium smelting, and joint alumina and bauxite projects, including ones in third countries, the company said.