The 10th China-Russia Expo will be held in Harbin from May 17 to 21, with the 35th Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair (Hajie) taking place concurrently. The Ministry of Commerce stated that the expo has become a landmark platform for China-Russia economic and trade cooperation. The ministry will work to upgrade the quality of economic and trade cooperation, consolidate and expand trade volume, and deepen investment cooperation in key sectors. The Russian side looks forward to shifting to industrial and supply chain cooperation, focusing on areas such as industrial parks. In the first quarter of this year, China-Russia trade volume increased by 14.7% year-on-year, getting off to a good start.

On May 8, the Ministry of Commerce held a press conference for the 10th China-Russia Expo.

A reporter from National Business Daily (hereinafter referred to as "NBD Reporter") learned at the press conference that the 10th China-Russia Expo (hereinafter referred to as "the Expo"), co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, the People's Government of Heilongjiang Province, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, will be held at the Harbin International Convention and Exhibition Center from May 17 to 21. Heilongjiang Province will also host the 35th Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair concurrently.

Ma Chi, Deputy Director-General of the Eurasian Department of the Ministry of Commerce, said that since the inaugural edition in 2014, the China-Russia Expo has attracted over 7,200 Chinese and Russian enterprises and 1.05 million visitors in total. Initially focused on traditional sectors such as energy, minerals, and mechanical and electrical equipment, it has gradually expanded to emerging fields including the digital economy, green and low-carbon development, cross-border e-commerce, and biomedicine. It has become a major platform for business communities of the two countries to connect and cooperate, an important window for sub-national exchanges and mutual learning, and a landmark symbol of China-Russia economic and trade cooperation.

Continuing to stabilize trade in bulk commodities such as energy, minerals, and grain

Ma Chi introduced at the press conference that in February this year, President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin held a video meeting, emphasizing that the two sides should seize the historic opportunity, maintain close high-level exchanges, strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, and ensure that China-Russia relations continue to develop along the right track through deeper strategic coordination and more proactive big-country responsibility. Guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, the Ministry of Commerce will work with relevant departments to strengthen coordination with the Russian side, promote the upgrading of China-Russia economic and trade cooperation, and further enrich the connotation of bilateral relations.

Regarding considerations for promoting high-quality development of China-Russia economic and trade cooperation in the next phase, Ma Chi stated:

First, continue to consolidate and expand bilateral trade volume. "We will continue to stabilize trade in bulk commodities such as energy, minerals, and grain. While ensuring the security and stability of the two countries' industrial and supply chains, we will inject stability and new momentum into the world economy. We will also continue to expand trade in mechanical and electrical products, characteristic agricultural products, and consumer goods, accelerate the development of cross-border e-commerce and overseas warehouses, promote the upgrading of modern service industries, and foster new growth points for bilateral trade."

Second, continue to deepen investment cooperation in key areas. "We will continue to implement the China-Russia Bilateral Investment Treaty, focus on infrastructure, green and low-carbon development, biomedicine and other fields, expand the space for two-way investment cooperation, promote the implementation of mutually beneficial cooperation projects, and enhance the level of upstream and downstream industrial chain and regional coordinated development."

Third, continue to improve the facilitation of trade and investment. "We will work with relevant departments to strengthen cooperation with the Russian side in customs clearance, inspection and quarantine, standard certification, intellectual property protection and other areas, unblock cross-border logistics channels, continue to optimize the business environment, and remove obstacles for cooperation between enterprises of the two countries."

At the same time, continue to leverage the role of exhibition platforms. "We will take the China-Russia Expo, China International Import Expo and other platforms as opportunities to build more precise and professional enterprise docking platforms, encourage sub-national governments and industry associations of the two countries to deepen exchanges and cooperation, continuously expand cooperation regions and enrich cooperation connotations, ensuring that every step of China-Russia economic and trade cooperation is steady, solid and far-reaching."

The Russian side looks forward to shifting from mere trade cooperation to industrial and supply chain cooperation

NBD Reporter learned at the press conference that the total exhibition area of this Expo is 55,000 square meters, with more than 1,500 Chinese and foreign enterprises from 46 countries and regions participating. Nearly 300 Russian enterprises will participate, and the number of Chinese procurement delegations is expected to exceed 5,000.

What expectations does the Russian side have for this Expo?

Seryukova, Representative of the Russian Federation Ministry of Economic Development’s Commercial Representative Office in China (at the level of Deputy Commercial Representative of Russia in China), expressed the hope that this exhibition will not only be a showcase of achievements but also a practical platform for deepening bilateral relations. "While trade volume growth is important, we hope to diversify cooperation, shifting from mere trade cooperation to industrial and supply chain cooperation, and implement high-tech cooperation projects and long-term mutually beneficial investments."

Seryukova pointed out, "That is why this business event focuses on industrial parks, digitalization, standards and intellectual property protection. We hope to reach consensus on these directions through relevant discussions and exchanges. We have high hopes for sub-national cooperation. Leaders from many regions of both countries will attend the 6th China-Russia Sub-national Cooperation Forum, a core event. We expect the forum to launch high-quality cooperation projects and deepen economic, trade and investment links between regions."

"We also expect hundreds of negotiations and signings to take place during the Expo. As I mentioned earlier, a dedicated business negotiation area will be set up. We hope this Expo will help more Russian non-resource products enter the Chinese market."

Seryukova said, "Finally, we also value the long-term people-to-people effects of the Expo. Russian university exhibitions will drive new academic exchange programs, and cultural events such as special performances by Russian art troupes in Harbin will serve as another bridge for enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples."

According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Commerce, China-Russia trade volume reached US$227.9 billion in 2025, exceeding US$200 billion for three consecutive years. China has remained Russia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. In the first quarter of this year, bilateral trade volume reached US$61.2 billion, up 14.7% year-on-year. Among this, exports to Russia increased by 22% year-on-year, and imports from Russia rose by 9% year-on-year, achieving a good start.

Source: China International Import Expo - National Business Daily