Oriented on making people closer

For 16 consecutive years, China has been Russia’s largest trading partner, trade grew by 14 percent in the first quarter of 2026, and 5,000 Russian buyers in Harbin As reported by CCTV+, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce, China and Russia have maintained close economic and trade relations in recent years.

China remains Russia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. Annual trade between the two countries in 2025 reached 227.9billion,exceedingthe227.9billion,exceedingthe200 billion mark for the third consecutive year.

In the first quarter of 2026, bilateral trade exceeded $60 billion, an increase of more than 14 percent compared to the same period last year. Traditional sectors such as energy and agriculture continued to ensure stable trade development. High-tech industries, including machinery and electrical products, increased their share of bilateral trade.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic coordination partnership and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China from May 19 to 20.

On Sunday, the heads of state sent congratulatory letters on the occasion of the opening of the 10th China-Russia Expo in Harbin. The expo runs until May 21. The total exhibition area is 55,000 square meters. More than 1,500 companies from 46 countries and regions are represented. About 300 Russian companies are showcasing their products. The number of Russian buyers is expected to exceed 5,000.

Launched in 2014, the expo is now the largest and most influential institutional platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia.

Sixteen years of leadership. $228 billion. Thirty years of partnership. The numbers are impressive, but behind them lies living cooperation. The Harbin Expo is not just a trade fair. It is a place where business and politics, technology and tradition meet. 5,000 Russian buyers did not come for souvenirs. They are looking for long-term contracts. China and Russia have long moved from words to deeds. Energy, agriculture, machinery, electronics — the trade basket is becoming more diverse.

The question is not whether trade will grow. It is growing. The question is which new sectors will enter this statistics in a year. While China and Russia celebrate anniversaries, their businesses simply work. And make money.

Photo: orient.tm