North China's coastal city of Qinhuangdao, a hotspot destination to Russian tourists, has restored its flights connecting Russian cities after a six-year hiatus in a bid to boost tourism.
The air route's first airliner from Russia's Khabarovsk touched down on Saturday at Qinhuangdao's Beidaihe Airport, bringing 98 Russian visitors to the city.
"It's wonderful to have a direct flight," said a Russian tourist.
According to data from the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) cited by Russia's Sputnik in early July, the share of Russian market sales for trips to China in July 2026 more than doubled year-on-year, rising from 2.1 percent to 4.3 percent. China's visa-free policy for Russian citizens continues to drive the surge, with outbound travel from Russia to China maintaining steady growth.
To meet the rising demand, Beidaihe Airport will roll out four more flight routes linking Irkutsk, Blagoveshchensk, Yakutsk, and Vladivostok, as part of its broader push to attract more international visitors.
"We have designed four themed travel itineraries tailored to the different travel preferences and needs of Russian visitors, with the goal of delivering a well-rounded and memorable experience from start to finish," said Liu Dan, deputy director of the Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau of Beidaihe District.
The border inspection station in Qinhuangdao has also optimized its staffing and procedures. It opened Russian-language service windows and an online pre-declaration system combined with rapid on-site verification, significantly reducing waiting time for visa-exempt passengers. Meanwhile, customs authorities have rolled out smart gates and self-service facilities to enable seamless, touchless clearance.
Coastal city in north China restores Russia flights to boost tourism
Business leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs from around the world gathered at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), where discussions are focusing on turning AI innovation into cross-border partnerships and real-world applications.
The 2026 WAIC is running in Shanghai from Friday to Monday under the theme "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future."
Across the exhibition halls, conversations often extended beyond product demonstrations, with visitors exploring potential partnerships, supply chains and overseas expansion.
Among them was Paolo Brizzi, chief information officer of Italy's Competence Center for Industry and Manufacturing (CIM), who met with a Chinese AI company to discuss cooperation ranging from industrial applications to entering the European market.
"My point is not to be a customer or a provider of technologies, but to identify parts [where we can] actually collaborate and work together," he said.
The four-day conference has also created opportunities for startups to connect with investors, researchers and potential customers. One startup launched an online networking group on the opening day, attracting hundreds of participants who exchanged ideas, explored business opportunities and sought technical solutions.
Participants said AI innovation depends not only on technological breakthroughs but also on cooperation across industries and countries.
"Collaboration is important because alone you cannot do so much. It needs to be a team support ecosystem," said Florian Wohlrab, CEO of Canada-based OpenHW Foundation.
For many international visitors, the conference is also an opportunity to explore how AI can help address practical challenges. Omar Khan, a participant from Pakistan, said international cooperation is essential to ensuring AI benefits everyone.
"I think, for me, we are all the one. We're human and I think we can cooperate a lot," he said.
Some attendees were looking for solutions to challenges in their home countries. A visitor from Kenya said AI applications such as weather forecast and soil analysis could help improve agricultural productivity across many parts of Africa, where farming remains a cornerstone of the economy.
As countries race to advance AI technologies, participants at this year's WAIC said the conference has become a platform for connecting ideas, technology and demand across borders, helping turn AI innovation into practical international cooperation.
World AI Conference highlights growing demand for global AI partnership
