Nizhny Novgorod Region presented promising joint projects across industry, agriculture, IT and other sectors to the Chinese delegation

On April 22-23, the Nizhny Novgorod Region became a platform for discussing new international initiatives, hosting a delegation from the China-Russia Trade, Economic and Investment Chamber of Heilongjiang Province, along with a vice-rector of Heilongjiang University. The business mission focused on developing cooperation in industry, engineering, agriculture, IT, pharmaceuticals, and education.

The visit continued dialogue initiated last December when a Nizhny Novgorod delegation led by Deputy Chairman of the Government Dmitry Starostin visited China and invited partners to explore the region's investment and scientific potential.

The first day featured a roundtable chaired by Deputy Governor Andrey Sanosyan, discussing prospective projects, including a small-tonnage chemistry center for microelectronics, joint ventures in automotive manufacturing, an automation industrial cluster at the "Kulibin" special economic zone, and IT project opportunities. The Chinese delegation also toured investment sites proposed for joint initiatives.

"China is our key economic partner, with trade turnover growing fivefold over seven years. Heilongjiang Province is particularly strategic for Russian companies entering the Chinese market. This visit will further strengthen our industrial and IT cooperation, with agriculture being another priority sector that has significantly boosted our exports to China," Andrey Sanosyan emphasized.

The second day included business meetings with local entrepreneurs.

Jiao Jian, Executive President of the China-Russia Chamber, outlined five cooperation priorities, including figital technologies/AI, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and traditional medicine, engineering and logistics.

Twelve local enterprises presented cooperation proposals spanning investments, procurement, and supply chains. For example, KFH Tarakanova A.A. proposed to promote the exports of Nizhny Novgorod honey to China. The Nizhny Novgorod R&D Center raised issues of joint applied research funding

Summing up the visit, Deputy Chairman Dmitry Starostin noted significant potential to deepen the bilateral economic ties between.

"We want Chinese companies to see our region not just as a market but for localization and joint production. With our preferential tax zones and state support tools, plus growing Nizhny Novgorod businesses in China, we're building mutual trust and concrete opportunities," said Dmitry Starostin.

Concluding the talks, Jiao Jian invited participants to the Harbin International Trade Fair (May 17-22), which President Putin attended last year.

Let us recall that the visit yielded two concrete agreements advancing educational and technological collaboration between the regions. The first agreement was signed between NEYMARK IT Campus and Heilongjiang University, focusing on academic exchange, joint educational programs, and digital technology research. The second agreement was signed between the Nizhny Novgorod Development Corporation and Heilongjiang Trade, Economic and Investment Chamber. The parties agreed to work together on establishing an international IT college in Nizhny Novgorod.