Sweatshirt with Vladimir Putin quote becomes first purchase at the National Centre RUSSIA stand in Harbin

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The 10th Russia-China EXPO has opened in Harbin, and the Department Store stand, the flagship project of the National Centre RUSSIA, attracted visitors’ attention from its very first hours of operation. The first purchase made here by international guests was not merely an item, but a true symbol: a sweatshirt featuring a quote by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, "Such unity is the most powerful and the strongest".

The words printed on the sweatshirt were spoken by the President during the ceremonial launch of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. He meant that the peoples of our country are united by the desire to preserve their shared land, their families, culture and traditions. It is this unity, the head of state emphasised, that underlies all our achievements and victories: in science, culture, sport, the economy and the defence of the Fatherland.

The purchase was made by a representative of a Chinese company from the city of Jingzhou, Hubei Province, which specialises in the production of kitchenware. Another item bought by the Chinese guest was a sweatshirt featuring the quote "We must always look to the future", a well-known phrase by the head of the Russian state from his speech at the 13th Congress of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia.

"My main major clients are from Russia, so today I came to the Russian pavilion with great pleasure, and it is very pleasant and joyful for me to be here. The Russian friends seemed very kind and sincere to me, and I believe that in the future the friendship between China and Russia will only become stronger and warmer. I especially liked this clothing. First, it is beautiful, and second, it is very well made," the first buyer shared.

The collection of clothing items featuring quotes by the President is an important part of the Department Store stand exposition in Harbin. The National Centre RUSSIA has the exclusive right to create such items. Visitors spend a long time looking at the statements, translating them, asking follow-up questions and eventually admitting that a strong leader who speaks of unity as the main value inspires respect and a desire to better understand the country he represents.

"There is real strength and wisdom in these words," one visitor to the stand said about the quotes by the head of the Russian state.

Guests of the exposition are also actively discovering other Department Store goods: products by manufacturers from Russian regions, presented in the thematic areas "Delicacies", "Accessories", "Folk Arts and Crafts", and "Tableware". They are also gladly purchasing nevalyashkas (roly-poly dolls) in Chinese national costumes and in the form of pandas from the Kotovskaya Nevalyashka factory.

In addition to the Department Store of the National Centre RUSSIA in Moscow, venues featuring unique goods and pride in talented craftsmen from across the country are also being created in other regions, alongside the opening of National Centre RUSSIA branches. They are also becoming an important platform for cultural dialogue between Russia and China, as well as other states.