Harbin's upgraded event provides a forum for global cooperation

The first China-Russia Expo, themed "new opportunities, new platform", started on June 30 in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province.

The five-day event is also known as the 25th China Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair, which was an annual cooperation project between China and Russia.

Top government leaders from both countries decided to upgrade the fair into a higher-level expo when they met last October.

The expo was approved by the State Council in March and was co-organized by a number of ministries and government departments from both countries.

At the opening ceremony on June 29, Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang said that the current China-Russia relationship was "on a fast track and at the most dynamic and fruitful era".

"The first China-Russia Expo is a new platform to boost the two countries' partnership, a new window to display their achievements and a new milestone to mark the bilateral friendship," said Wang.

He said Heilongjiang had advantages in its trading partnership with Russia as it accounted for about 25 percent of China's trade with Russia and one-third of Chinese investment in Russia.

Wang's counterpart, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, said that China was not only a neighbor to Russia, but also a major trading partner.

Rogozin said that Russia had made great efforts to modernize and improve its investment climate in recent years and he welcomed investors to the Far East region.

The event aims to provide business opportunities for China and Russia as well as the entire Northeast Asia region and beyond as further countries may be invited.

The 86,000-square-meter expo venue has space for about 3,000 booths. Of these, about 2,200 were occupied by more than 20 domestic provinces and cities including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Nearly 1,600 companies from across the world took part in the expo.

A total of 500 booths were ordered by more than 30 countries including the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Spain, Thailand and Belarus. There was also an area for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Exhibitions and events

The Russia Pavilion and China-Russia cooperation projects exhibition area focuses on promoting the Russian national image, mega enterprises and financial institutions, regional governments and commerce.

The area includes a display of China-Russia economic and trade cooperation projects that involve energy, aerospace, information and communication, environmental protection, agriculture, forestry, high technology, trade, transportation, food, handicraft, culture, education and tourism.

A green organic food exhibition area highlights agricultural resources in Heilongjiang. It will promote technology for agriculture and animal husbandry, organic food, green food and animal products as well as local specialties.

There are also pavilions for machinery, furniture and cultural industries.

The expo will also host seminars, forums, trade negotiations, project match-making events, promotion campaigns, technical exchanges and cultural activities.

The opening ceremony included a concert and throughout the event Russian folk song and dance troupes will perform. There will also be a Russian oil painting exhibition and a China-Russia cooking contest.

The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia announced that it would hold a Russia Day and a number of other activities with government organizations from both countries.

Event organizers said they provide detailed services in all procedures, from inspection and quarantine to accommodation and logistics, as well as online search and inquiry systems.

Traditional dancers from Russia took the stage at the opening ceremony for the China-Russia Expo on June 29. Xu Xu / for China Daily

Nearly 1,600 businesses from home and abroad are participating in the expo.

Russian clients examine products at the expo.