China and Russia are gearing up for deeper economic and trade ties at the sixth China-Russia Expo. This year's expo held in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, serves as an important platform for over 1,700 companies from 74 countries and regions and emphasizes the kind of local cooperation that can generate future potential.

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan said the Expo and regional cooperation forum would enhance mutual understanding and trust at all levels. 

He expected joint efforts made at the fair would drive regional collaboration and enrich Sino-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era.

At meetings held alongside the expo, representatives from both sides will exchange opinions and are set to reach certain agreements. These vary from simplifying custom procedures, technology transfer, taxing and financing.

Russian Vice-Premier Maxim Akimov named two imperative tasks under the new relationship - to improve business environment and logistics transportation. “This will take our bilateral trade volume to new heights and make more profits for the region,” he said.

During the five-day event, business representatives and the general public can freely walk through the venue to get a better understanding of achievements made in all sectors and to seek new business opportunities with their neighboring partners.

Key projects between the two countries, including jointly-developed CR929 passenger aircraft, high-speed railway, and the construction of two cross-border bridges, remain the main focus of participants. Meanwhile, growth in booming sectors like new vehicles, modern agriculture and intelligent appliances are also attracting wide interest.

Ma Li, mayor of China’s border city of Heihe, said their municipal exhibition mainly promotes the Heihe-Blagoveshchensk highway bridge that is expected to further open the city up to exchanges. “You can see that the twin cities on both sides are planning to build more economic cluster together to develop cross-border e-commerce , cultural industries and more,” Ma added.

At the Russian exhibition hall, Anatoly Sagakon, technical director of Chelyabinsk Electric Equipment Plant who first participated in the annual expo, said many firms have shown an interest in their products. “With confidence in our cost-efficiency and independent development abilities, we would like to learn about the Chinese market and seek a partner to expand our business,” Sagakon said.

With global demand, resources, technology and capital flow together at this grand China-Russia gathering, many believe the expo will also be a positive stimulus for the Belt and Road initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union.

(Cover: Opening of the Russian Federation exhibition hall. /CGTN Photo)