The National Centre RUSSIA won over China’s most Russian city
The 10th
Russian-Chinese EXPO, in which the National Centre RUSSIA took part for the
first time, has concluded in Harbin. The flagship project, Department Store,
was presented there. During the exposition, from 17 to 21 May, more than 3,000
items were sold. The most popular goods included a clothing collection with
quotes from the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, exclusive
Chinese-style nevalyashkas, traditional Russian roly-poly dolls, as well as
scarves, tableware and amber items. Department Store in Harbin became a point
of attraction for guests not only from China, but also from other countries.
Visitors were able to buy delicacies, discover folk crafts and take home a
piece of the Russian soul.
"We
are pleased that the National Centre RUSSIA was presented in China for the
first time. Our flagship project, Department Store, operated at the
Russian-Chinese EXPO. Guests were delighted with our nevalyashkas, amber items,
porcelain tableware and, of course, treats. It is symbolic that the most
popular item at the exposition was the clothing collection with quotes from our
President, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Words about unity, family and love for
the Motherland resonated with the guests. And this is no coincidence. During
the exposition, the head of state visited Beijing on an official visit. We are
grateful to the residents of Harbin and our Chinese friends for their
hospitality, attention to Russian culture and the atmosphere of openness that
we felt throughout. For the National Centre RUSSIA, participation in this
international event became another bridge of friendship, which will only grow
stronger," said Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA Natalia Virtuozova.
The opening
of the 10th Russian-Chinese EXPO in Harbin began with official delegations
visiting the exposition of the National Centre RUSSIA. From the Russian side,
the space was visited by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and
Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, Yuri
Trutnev. The Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Natalia
Virtuozova, presented him with a hoodie featuring a quote from the President of
the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, "Such unity is the most powerful
and the strongest", and a nevalyashka.
In
addition, the exposition was visited by representatives of Russian regions:
Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Aisen Nikolayev; Governor of the
Kamchatka Territory, Vladimir Solodov; Governor of the Amur Region, Alexander
Orlov, and Deputy Prime Minister Petr Pak; Vice-Governor of the Krasnodar
Territory, Alexander Ruppel; Deputy Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region, Dmitry
Ionin; Deputy Prime Minister of the Jewish Autonomous Region, Mikhail Yurkin;
Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Tver Region, Alexander Kalinkin,
and others.
The
exposition of the National Centre RUSSIA also attracted a large number of
Chinese media outlets and popular, well-known bloggers. They included blogger
Yao, Heilongjiang Radio and Television presenters Fan Qinglong and Jiang Jiang,
and others.
For the
exposition in Harbin, the National Centre RUSSIA brought products by domestic
manufacturers from regions across the country. Goods were presented in the
themed areas "Delicacies", "Accessories", "Folk Arts,
Crafts and Trades", and "Tableware". In addition, the exposition
was decorated with exclusive fashion looks by a Chinese brand and Russian
designer Liza Anisimova.
Clothing with quotes from the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, created by special order of the National Centre RUSSIA, was in highest demand. T-shirts, hoodies, baseball caps and other accessories attracted guests not only with their striking design, but also with their meaning. Each item reflects the core values on which Russian society is built. The prints feature statements about unity, patriotism, family and responsibility for the country’s future. The National Centre RUSSIA has the right to create clothing elements featuring statements by the head of state.
Nevalyashkas
were the second most popular item. Specially for the exposition, the National
Centre RUSSIA and the Kotovskie Nevalyashki factory prepared a collection that
reflects the friendship between our countries. Guests bought up toys painted in
the traditional red and yellow colours of China and decorated with an image of
wild plum, a symbol of renewal and resilience. Another nevalyashka, in the
image of a child in a panda costume, is one of the main symbols of warm
friendly relations between the two countries. The exposition also featured
panda nevalyashkas and classic Russian versions of the toy. Guests called them
the kindest souvenirs.
Classic
Pavlovo Posad shawls and original items, including those created by designer
Nina Ruchkina, were also among the most popular goods. Folk arts and crafts,
porcelain tableware, crystal, amber items, cushions and groceries, including
teas, treats and chocolate with various additions, were in particular demand.
Guests also bought samovars brought from the Tula Region.
The
National Centre RUSSIA also presented a rich event programme dedicated to folk
arts and crafts and the cultural legacy of Russian regions. Guests of the
exposition learned about the Sakha horsehair weaving technique, presented by
craftswoman Svetlana Kharitonova, saw how traditional floral motifs of Ural
painting are created by craftswoman Oksana Ponomareva, and discovered the
secrets of Mikhailov coloured lace together with People’s Artist of Russia
Tatiana Presnova. Demonstrations of ancient crafts became part of a major
cultural dialogue, allowing visitors to gain a closer insight into the
traditions and artistic legacy of Russian regions.
An
important place in the exposition of the National Centre RUSSIA was occupied by
a model of the new building of the National Centre RUSSIA in Moscow on
Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment. Construction was launched by the President of
the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, on 26 March 2026. As part of the
exposition in China, the image of the canopy is complemented by samples of
tiles, mosaic, lace and wood that are planned for use in the future interiors
of the National Centre space. The complex, covering more than 200,000 square
metres, will become an architectural event of global scale and a symbol of
modern Russia.
A lecture on international practices was held at the National Centre RUSSIA as part of the educational programme "Event Management Workshop".
Participants in the meeting of the Board of the Expert Council for Architecture and Urban Planning discussed the development of the country’s sovereign architectural and visual code.
The staff of the Moscow 24 editorial office explained how a city news television channel operates, covering events in the capital and Moscow Region.
