China and Russia hold trade expo as Putin and Trump visits draw global attention

China and Russia Open 10th Bilateral Expo in Harbin Amid Heightened Diplomatic Activity

The 10th Russia-China Expo officially opened on Sunday at the Harbin International Convention Exhibition and Sports Center in Heilongjiang Province, China, according to Russian state news agency TASS. The event, which runs until May 21, is organized by Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Economic Development, alongside China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Heilongjiang Provincial People’s Government.

The opening ceremony featured messages from both heads of state. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev read a message from President Vladimir Putin, who described the expo as “a large-scale event that clearly demonstrates the achievements of bilateral cooperation and creates an opportunity for direct dialogue between businessmen and government officials,” as quoted by TASS. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing read a message from President Xi Jinping, which noted the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation.

Zhang also highlighted China’s role as Russia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching $227.9 billion in 2025, according to TASS.

The expo’s timing is notable, as it comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump visited Beijing — the first such visit by a U.S. president in nearly a decade — and ahead of an expected visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Chinese capital, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP). SCMP reported that the back-to-back high-profile visits reflect Beijing’s effort to stabilize relations with Washington while deepening coordination with Moscow, one of its closest strategic partners. The report noted that Putin’s visit is expected to draw heightened scrutiny given global volatility and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Trade with China has become increasingly important for Russia since sweeping Western sanctions were imposed following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as noted by SCMP.

At the expo, regional exhibits are playing a prominent role. TASS reported that the Khabarovsk Region’s stand featured models of fighter jets and the Sukhoi Superjet-100 airliner, which regional governor Dmitry Demeshin described as products “of which we are rightfully proud.” The region also showcased goods from small and medium-sized businesses, including fish from the Sea of Okhotsk, meat delicacies, chaga tea, birch sap, coffee, fruit desserts made from Far Eastern berries, natural honey, and clothing from local designers.

TASS also reported on the popularity of clothing bearing quotes from President Vladimir Putin among Chinese visitors. Natalia Virtuozova, general director of the Rossiya National Center, said that a Chinese man made the first purchase — a sweatshirt with the quote “We must definitely look to the future.” Virtuozova noted that the center holds the exclusive right to print the president’s quotes with his personal signature. She added that high-quality Russian handicrafts, including Orenburg scarves, Pavlovo Posad scarves, and exclusive tumbler dolls made of sable fur, were also in high demand. The success of the center’s flagship department store concept has already attracted interest from Chinese businesses, with representatives of a Beijing shopping mall proposing to open a similar venue in the Chinese capital.

Virtuozova also shared plans for expansion, stating that a branch of the Rossiya National Center and a department store will open on Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island — a territory jointly developed by Russia and China — in 2028. A new building for the center itself is expected to open in central Moscow on November 4, 2029, according to TASS.

During the expo, the Khabarovsk Region’s delegation, led by First Deputy Chairman of the regional government Sergey Abramov, briefed officials on the development of Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island, including a border crossing, a branch of the National Center RUSSIA, Friendship Park, and a Russian-Chinese technology park, as reported by TASS. Joint development of the island was also a key topic at the sixth meeting of the Russian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission, which convened on Saturday ahead of the expo, according to SCMP.

The Russia-China Expo has been held annually since 2014, alternating between the two countries, according to TASS. This year’s exhibition covers sectors such as engineering, digital technologies, energy, metals, chemicals, and agriculture.