55,000 square meters, 1,500 companies from 46 countries, over 5,000 Russian buyers, and trade reaching $240 billion in 2024

As reported by CCTV+, the 10th China-Russia Expo opened in Harbin. It runs until May 21. The exhibition area covers 55,000 square meters. More than 1,500 companies from 46 countries are participating. About 300 Russian companies are showcasing their products. The number of Russian buyers is expected to exceed 5,000.

Shi Jing, Associate Professor at Tsinghua University, noted: “This is more than just a trade fair. It enjoys strong political support and turns neighboring enterprises into real business. The content of deals is becoming more solid. Beyond energy and agricultural products, recent exports have brought real deals in minerals, machinery, EVs and digital payments. Cooperation is shifting from raw materials to high technology. The results are clear: bilateral trade reached a record of over $240 billion in 2024, with more than 90 percent of payments made in yuan or rubles. The expo helps both sides get to know each other better, strengthen trust and find new areas for collaboration.”

In education, China and Russia have also made significant strides. Joint laboratories, dual-degree programs, summer camps and online courses are emerging. Shi emphasized that education cooperation is even more important than trade because people-to-people ties are long-term. The Shenzhen MSU-BIT University has already graduated thousands of students. It is a model of deep cooperation.

Trade may rise and fall, but human connections remain. The Harbin Expo is not about goods. It is about trust. China and Russia are moving from selling oil to co-creating EVs, digital platforms and educational programs. $240 billion is not just a number. It is 240 billion reasons for a new phase of partnership. The question is not whether it will grow. It is already growing. The question is how quickly others will realize that the old economy is dead. It has been replaced by technology, trust and a shared future.