China-Russia Expo deepens regional cooperation across sectors

The 10th China-Russia Expo, themed "Trust, Cooperation, and Mutual Benefit," is a flagship platform to boost bilateral regional ties, with regional representatives from both countries gathering to make connections and work on cooperation projects in different sectors.

Running from Sunday through Thursday in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, this year's expo invited representatives from 16 regions in Russia who are involved in projects spanning agricultural processing, logistics, industrial parks and sci-tech collaboration.

"I represent the Tver Oblast, the largest region in central Russia. This is our second time in Harbin. At our booth, we are showcasing products from the food industry and the agro-industrial complex -- items that, in our view, have great potential in China. We expect this expo to yield new contacts and help promote our products. We are seeing a great many visitors, including business representatives, who are actively interested in our booth," said Alexander Kalinkin, Deputy Minister of Economic Development for the Tver Oblast.

Alongside the exhibitions, the expo is also hosting the sixth China-Russia Forum on Interregional Cooperation, an established platform that has become instrumental in nurturing bilateral regional ties.

"The vast majority of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation maintain trade and economic ties with China, with regions like Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Moscow Oblast, the Irkutsk Oblast, Primorsky Krai, and the Republic of Tatarstan seeing the most active bilateral engagements. It should be emphasized separately that cooperation between the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District and China's border regions is developing at a rapid pace," said Vladimir Ilyichev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, in his keynote speech at the forum.

Since its launch in 2014, the China-Russia Expo has operated as a direct trading platform, held alternately in the two countries. Over the years, it has drawn more than 7,200 companies and over a million visitors.

The 2026 edition brings together representatives from 24 ministries, regions, and business organizations from both sides to host around 100 events across more than 20 industry sectors. Over 1,500 companies from 46 countries and regions are taking part in the exhibition, including about 300 Russian enterprises.

China-Russia Expo deepens regional cooperation across sectors

A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday slammed Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te over his latest remarks on cross-Strait relations, accusing him of promoting secessionism and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a press release that Lai's speech marking his second anniversary in office was "filled with lies and deception, hostility and confrontation."

Chen accused Lai of stubbornly adhering to a secessionist stance in pursuit of "Taiwan independence," while exaggerating the so-called threats from the mainland and intensifying confrontation across the Strait.

Lai played an old trick of advocating the secessionist agenda on one hand and, on the other, calling insincerely for dialogue and exchanges with the mainland, attempting to mislead people in Taiwan and deceive the international community, he said.

Chen said that these common tricks have been seen through by more and more Taiwanese people. Their deceptive and provocative actions will be met with firm opposition from compatriots on both sides and the international community, and are doomed to fail.

Reaffirming the mainland's position on the Taiwan question, Chen said Taiwan has never been a country, is not one now, and will never become one in the future.

He described the Taiwan question as a historical issue left over from a Chinese civil war in the 1940s.

No election result in Taiwan could alter the fact that Taiwan is part of China or sever the historical and legal bonds linking the two sides of the Strait, according to Chen.

The mainland would never allow any person or force to pursue secessionist activities under any pretext, he added.

Calling secessionists "the chief culprit" who undermines cross-Strait peace, Chen said the mainland would continue to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, unite broadly with Taiwan compatriots, combat secessionist activities, and safeguard peace and stability across the Strait.

Central government spokesperson refutes Lai Ching-te's latest remarks, warns against secessionist moves