Guests turn an diamond-shaped light on at the opening ceremony of the 2015 China Harbin International Jewelry Expo in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on May 29. [Photo by Cai Meng/Xinhua]

The 2015 China Harbin International Jewelry Expo opened on May 29 in the city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

A range of jewelry from the province and Russia were on display, attracting about 600 local and Russian companies, with a total of 852 booths in the exhibition hall’s 22,600 square meters.


A piece of jade carving artwork is on display at the 2015 China Harbin International Jewelry Expo in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on May 29. [Photo by Cai Meng/Xinhua]

Heilongjiang, which borders Russia to the north, is an important frontier for China in its further opening to Russia and has its own advantages and the largest trade volume with Russia of all of China’s provinces. Russia has an abundance of gemstones, with jade reserves accounting for 80 percent of the world’s total, jewel reserves for 30 percent, and diamonds, for 27 percent.

The expo runs through June 2 and has jasper, white jade, amber, and lapis lazuli from Russia on display along with the province’s Beihong agate and Taoshan jade getting special attention.


An exhibitor shows a jade that engraved with little goldfish swimming by the side of a lotus leaf at the 2015 China Harbin International Jewelry Expo in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on May 29. [Photo by Cai Meng/Xinhua]
 

Russian officials will be on hand to introduce their gemstones and look for partners and investors from China and there will be gemstone appraisers to provide on-the-spot testing and appraisal services for free, according to the organizers.

The expo is sponsored by various governmental departments, such as the provincial Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, the city of Shanghai’s Economy and Informatization Office, the provincial Commerce Department, and the Harbin municipal government.