China-Russia Expo opens in Harbin

The 10th China-Russia Expo opened on Sunday in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, attracting more than 1,500 domestic and foreign enterprises from 46 countries and regions.

The five-day event features that high-tech and specialized new enterprises accounted for over 20 percent of the exhibitors, showcasing new models of Sino-Russian cooperation in visa-free tourism and cross-border e-commerce.

Covering a total area of 55,000 square meters, the exhibition is divided into eight major sections, including Sino-Russia cooperation, international and Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan exhibition area, and green food.

It comprehensively displays over 800 new projects, collaborations, and technologies.

The intangible cultural heritage section has become a highlight of the expo's cultural exchange.

It features live demonstrations of intangible heritage skills such as Hezhe fish-skin paintings, Yimakan storytelling, and Bohai Mohe embroidery from Heilongjiang.

Intangible heritage inheritors showcase traditional craftsmanship, with each piece reflecting the charm of local folk culture.

Zhang Lin, a representative inheritor of the endangered Hezhe fish-skin technique, has participated in the China-Russia Expo for ten consecutive sessions since 2014.

This year, she brought two fish-skin garments and sixteen fish-skin paintings, along with cultural and creative products made from fish skin.

"I am delighted to see that the expo has attracted many domestic and international visitors, allowing them to appreciate and experience the making of fish-skin crafts firsthand," she said. "I hope to use this international platform to better promote the unique regional culture of Heilongjiang and contribute to the preservation and protection of intangible cultural heritage."

During the expo, nearly 100 activities focusing on industrial cooperation, investment promotion, international cooperation, and tourism consumption will be held.

Since its inception in 2014, the China-Russia Expo has seen participation from over 7,200 companies from both countries, with more than 250,000 business matchmaking attendees and a total transaction volume of 300 billion yuan ($44 billion).