Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HARBIN, May 17 (Xinhua) — Sergei Mikhailov from the Far East has just returned from Suifenhe City, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, where he went for a medical checkup and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment.
“I came here on the recommendation of a Chinese friend. After a medical examination, the doctor explained to me where I had problems in my body. Then they prescribed me medication,” the Russian said.
In recent years, the number of Russians seeking TCM treatment at the Suifenhe People’s Hospital has been steadily growing. Hospital employee Liu Simin noted that many Russians come as part of group tours to undergo medical examinations. “At the hospital, foreigners receive the same quality treatment and at the same prices as the Chinese,” he explained.
Sergey said he did not have a language barrier because the clinic provides professional medical translators for the convenience of foreign patients, which made it easier for him to communicate with doctors. After visiting the hospital, he enjoyed shopping and trying Chinese cuisine.
Trucks and tourist buses ply between the busy Suifenhe and Pogranichny checkpoints. Russian travelers love shopping: in Suifenhe they can often be seen with suitcases and bags.
Meanwhile, Russian goods are also popular in Suifenhe. “Rossa Empire”, the largest Russian commodity distribution center in Suifenhe, has become a landmark of the city with its rich collection of Russian goods and food products.
“More than 220 foreign trade enterprises are based in the center, where they import more than 5,000 items into China,” said Zhang Jiaqiang, director of the company that runs the center, adding that the center has a live streaming facility to promote international online sales.
The Suifenhe Bonded Zone has also played an important role as an economic driver for the promotion of cross-border trade.
Li Wei, CEO of Heilongjiang Zinnbach Biotechnology Co., Ltd., said his company is the first domestic brewery to set up production in the Suifenhe Bonded Zone. The company, which enjoys a tax-favored policy of “customs import and VAT refund,” enjoys zero tariffs on all imported raw materials such as malt, hops and yeast.
According to statistics from Suifenhe Customs, in 2024, the volume of cargo passing through the local automobile checkpoint exceeded 1 million tons for the first time, reaching 1.225 million tons. This year, the average daily number of vehicles passing through the automobile checkpoint was about 300 vehicles, 50 units more than in 2024.
In addition, Suifenhe is also an important stop on the China-Europe rail freight route, with nearly 9,000 freight trains carrying around 88,000 TEU (20-foot container equivalent units) passing through every year.
The local road and rail checkpoints in Suifenhe are among 19 border crossings on the China-Russia border in Heilongjiang Province, according to the provincial government website.
On May 7, after the ice on the Heilongjiang River completely melted, seasonal river traffic resumed between the three ports along the China-Russia border river, namely Heihe, Tongjiang and Fuyuan, and the three corresponding ports on the Russian side.
“The annual river service has resumed. The speed of customs clearance has become particularly fast, which is convenient for those of us who frequently travel between China and Russia,” said Jiang Haibo, a resident of Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, who took the river ferry service at Tongjiang Port.
Situated just 1 km from the Russian river port of Nizhneleninskoye in the Jewish Autonomous Region, Tongjiang has become an important trade route between China and Russia, with an annual throughput of 500,000 people and 600,000 tons of cargo.
“I am from the village of Nizhneleninskoye. It takes no more than half an hour to get from Tongjiang to my home by ferry, and here you can quickly and easily go through customs,” said Russian tourist Victoria Figol.
Tongjiang’s rail network is connected to the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia. Goods exported from Tongjiang via Khabarovsk in Russia can directly reach the interior of Russia and even further afield, to European countries such as Germany. This crossing is 800 km shorter than via the port of Suifenhe. -0-