The management of the Harbin area of the China Heilongjiang Pilot Trade Zone – known as Harbin free trade zone and located in the capital city of China’s northernmost Heilongjiang province – recently discussed undertaking an investment drive of the FTZ in Russia.

The discussions were held via a video conference with the Consulate General of China in the city Kazan – a regional capital and major commercial center in Russia – under the support of Heilongjiang Foreign Affairs Office.

The two sides discussed promoting Harbin FTZ as a platform for expanding commerce with Russia, while helping the zone open up to the European hinterland where the Russian economy is focused.

During the video conference, officials conveyed Harbin FTZ’s current conditions, the advantages of expanding commerce with Russia and the zone’s preferential policies to the consulate in Kazan.

Management hoped to use the influence of the consulate general to increase the promotion of the Harbin FTZ in Russia's mainstream media and social network platforms and carry out investment promotions in the European hinterland of Russia.

Harbin FTZ, as one of the three areas making up the Heilongjiang Free Trade Zone, was approved by the State Council – China’s Cabinet – on Aug 26, 2019.
 
It aims to become a launchpad for wide-ranging commerce between Russia and Northeast Asia, a national logistics hub connecting domestic and Eurasian regions–and a growth springboard and demonstration zone for the full-scale revitalization of the northeast region.

Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation and is an economic, transportation and cultural center located in the middle reaches of the Volga River. It has a population of nearly 1.3 million and an area of 425 square kilometers.

It is the eighth largest city in Russia, and an important railway hub, a large river port, and an industrial and financial center.