China and Russia have actively developed bilateral ties and exchanges in recent years, covering a broad spectrum of areas -- from cultural events and educational initiatives to visa-free travel.
During the May Day holiday season running from May 1 to 5, Russian tourists topped the list of foreign visitors arriving in China, according to data from Ctrip, a leading Chinese travel and flight booking platform. The number surged by 120 percent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. One of the most obvious drivers of this growth is the introduction of a visa-free policy for Russian citizens.
As travel agencies note, Russian tourists have increasingly ventured beyond iconic landmarks into the country's interior.
"Since the visa-free policy was introduced, the number of Russian tourist groups at our agency has increased significantly. Previously, Russian tourists would mainly prefer single-day group visit. They now stay longer to enjoy local cuisine, traditional Chinese medicine, and folk culture," said Zhou Yajuan, a tour guide at Hunchun Yutong International Travel Agency.
"We are very pleased that there is now a visa-free policy. We don't need to apply for a visa in advance, and the process is very fast, which is very comfortable for all of us. So come visit -- they are always happy to welcome us here, they are very hospitable people," said Larisa, a tourist from Russia.
The years 2026 and 2027 have been designated as Cross Years of Russian-Chinese Cooperation in Education. Currently, more than 80,000 students from Russia and China are studying in each other's countries under exchange programs, supported by over 150 joint organizations and projects. More than 140 schools are also involved in academic and sports exchanges.
From culture and tourism to education, exchanges between the two countries are fostering strong ties and deeper mutual understanding between their peoples.
China, Russia actively expand bilateral exchanges
The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting concluded in east China's Suzhou on Saturday, yielding fruitful results and laying significant groundwork for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.
The trade ministers' meeting focused on "building an open and predictable regional and multilateral economic and trade order" and "fostering new engines of innovative and dynamic trade and investment cooperation."
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao briefed the media on the meeting's outcomes at a press conference.
Wang said the meeting issued a joint statement titled the Suzhou Statement, and approved the latest edition of the APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services.
All parties agreed to advance policy innovation and reform in services trade, build an open and predictable investment environment, improve regional trade facilitation and supply chain resilience, strengthen standards coordination, and enhance intellectual property protection, Wang told the media.
He also said that substantial progress was made on a framework document for regional digital trade cooperation and the ministers emphasized promoting inclusive AI development, strengthening AI-related trade, and bridging the digital divide to ensure shared benefits from digital transformation.
The minister noted that the outcomes of the meeting demonstrated strong cooperation willingness, highlighted an innovation-oriented approach, and reflected inclusiveness and shared benefits. "The fact that Asia-Pacific economies can come together, uphold the original aspiration of promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation while supporting economic growth and prosperity, and engage in in-depth discussions on the important issue of 'where multilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation is headed,' fully demonstrates that open regionalism and true multilateralism enjoy broad support, and that mutual success and shared development serve the fundamental interests of all economies," Wang said.
2026 APEC trade ministers' meeting concludes with fruitful results
