The delegation of the Murmansk Region, led by Deputy Governor Svetlana Panfilova, participates in the events of the 10th anniversary Russian-Chinese EXPO in Harbin, which is held under the motto: "Trust. Cooperation. Mutual benefit."
On May 17, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev and Deputy Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Zhang Guoqing opened EXPO, which has become an important trade and industrial platform promoting the expansion and diversification of partnership between the two countries. Yuri Trutnev read the greeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the participants and organizers of the event. Zhang Guoqing voiced the greeting of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
After the opening ceremony, Vice Governor Svetlana Panfilova visited the stand of the Murmansk region, where she talked with representatives of logistics companies, business support institutions in Russia and China, regional brands, including fish and tourism companies, manufacturers of products from wild plants and kelp.
At the presentation "Industrial cooperation and high-quality development", dedicated to the trilateral cooperation between Russia, Belarus and China, the Deputy governor presented the investment, tourism and export potential of the Kola North, and also spoke about promising projects for joint implementation.
"The Murmansk Region is increasing cooperation with friendly countries – by the end of 2025, China has become the main foreign trade partner of our region, and exports to the Republic of Belarus have increased 8-fold. We are not only strengthening traditional ties, but also setting a new vector for container logistics through the port of Murmansk. We have reached an agreement with a Chinese shipping company on the organization of regular container shipments. I am confident that the potential of the Transarctic Transport Corridor, industrial and tourism projects open up broad prospects for joint work. And it is extremely important to continue systematic cooperation with our Chinese partners," Svetlana Panfilova said, noting that Harbin is the twin city of Murmansk and the capital of Heilongjiang Province, which promotes the concept of greater openness to the northern direction.
Within the framework of the Harbin EXPO, in addition to the business, there is also a rich cultural program aimed at strengthening humanitarian ties. Special guests from the Kola Arctic Region included the Honored Folk Art Collective of the Russian Federation, the Tonika pop Song Ensemble from Severomorsk and the young polar star Anya Zagrabskaya, who performed at the Murmansk Region venue after the opening ceremony and the Harbin Opera House.
Anya Zagrabskaya, a Northerner, studies vocals at the Children's Art School in Alexandrovsk, and is a student at the 276th Gadzhievo School. In 2025, she took second place in the prestigious All-Russian Generation Competition in Moscow, won the Rainbow over Vitebsk International Children's and Youth Creativity Competition, and won the second degree in the Best Voice of the Earth vocal competition.
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The jubilee X Russian-Chinese EXPO opened on Sunday, May 17, in Harbin, China's northeastern province of Heilongjiang. It is attended by 16 subjects of the Russian Federation. The EXPO will last until May 21. The total exhibition area reaches 12 thousand square meters, of which five thousand square meters is the Russian exposition.
/ Ministry of Arctic Development and Economy of the Murmansk Region /