More than 100 Russian companies are participating in the 10th China-Russia Expo scheduled from May 17 to 21 in northeast China's Harbin, including brands well-known to Chinese consumers and first timers in the Chinese market.
One of the most recognizable symbols of Russian quality remains the "Alenka" chocolate. Bars featuring a blue-eyed girl on the packaging have been familiar to Chinese consumers for nearly 15 years, and many consider this brand the best Russian souvenir.
For the current exhibition, Alenka's manufacturer "Red October" factory brought 26 varieties of chocolate, candies, and cookies, five of which are new products. At the same time, as noted by the company's lead engineer-technologist, the recipe of products oriented toward export to China has been adapted to local tastes.
"We use recipes with reduced sugar content for confectionery products aimed at export to China, as we take into account the taste preferences of our product connoisseurs," said Natalia Dobrolyubova, lead engineer-technologist of Red October.
Russian folk crafts occupy a special place in the exposition. They are entering the expo for the first time and presented together under the "Department Store Russia" project organized by the National Center Russia.
Visitors can see the famous Gzhel porcelain, Yelets lace made on bobbins -- an ancient craft that is more than 200 years old --- as well as crafts of young Russian brands.
General Director of the National Center Russia Natalia Virtuozova emphasized that behind each product lies not only craftsmanship, but also a sincere desire to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
"We are bringing goods that we very much hope will appear in Chinese homes, goods that are beloved. We are going to Harbin, as always, to share our love with the people who have maintained a warm and very valuable friendship with us for so many years," she said.
Trade turnover between Russia and China grew by almost 20 percent in early 2026. The driver of growth is non-raw material products -- the agro-industrial complex, chemical industry, and metallurgy, whose share increased from 22 percent to 27 percent. "China is the number one trading partner, and we have very, very good prospects for expanding trade. The goal set by the leaders to achieve a trade turnover of 300 billion dollars is a very ambitious goal, but the diversification of trade and the building of value-added chains serve as an additional incentive for making beneficial relations even more beneficial for participants on both sides," said Anton Tsetsinovsky, director of International Cooperation and Development at Russian Export Center.
An important event within the Expo's framework is "Days of Moscow." The Russian capital will present its investment, industrial, and technological potential, which will allow expanding practical cooperation with Chinese regions, once again confirming the Expo's status as one of the key international platforms for developing interregional cooperation.
100+ Russian companies in Harbin for China-Russia Expo
