People learn about Russian handicrafts during a cultural exchange event in Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Dec 20. LIAN ZHEN/XINHUA
From Manzhouli Port in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region to Russia's Zabaykalsky Krai and Irkutsk Oblast, bustling cross-border trains and a steady two-way flow of tourists highlight thriving industrial cooperation in grain processing, timber production and cultural tourism, serving as a vivid microcosm of upgraded and more efficient bilateral economic ties.
In the workshop of Manzhouli Xinfeng Grain and Oil Industrial Limited Company, the aroma of raw grain fills the air as fully automated production lines operate smoothly. Flaxseeds and oats from Russia undergo hulling, pressing and grinding, transforming into high-quality edible oils and premium coarse cereals before being dispatched across China.
"Following the closed-customs operation of the China-Russia Border Residents' Mutual Trade Zone at Manzhouli railway port in 2024, our 'mutual trade plus' import model has significantly reduced raw material costs and notably boosted profits," said Yang Zhihong, the company's deputy general manager. In 2025, the enterprise's agricultural imports from Russia surged to 19,000 metric tons from about 7,400 tons.
