Video and photos by Zhen Jianhong

The Russia Session of the Asia-Pacific International Cooperation and Exchange Series was held at the Shenzhen Longhua International Cooperation Center (LICC) on June 23, bringing together representatives of Russian and Chinese enterprises to discuss investment opportunities, innovation, and bilateral business cooperation.

The event, co-organized by the Beijing International Exchange Association, aimed to deepen economic and trade cooperation between Chinese and Russian enterprises, focusing on the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, cross-border services, and the financial sector.

Representatives from the Russian delegation interact with Chinese business representatives during the Russian Session at the LICC. 

LICC, the organizer of the Russia Session, sees the enormous untapped cooperation potential between Russian enterprises and those in Longhua.

“At present, Russia is vigorously pushing forward industrial modernization and digital transformation, generating strong demand for intelligent equipment, new energy and Internet of Things (IoT) hardware — all core strengths of Longhua. Russian partners can also support our local smart manufacturing brands in expanding into Eurasian markets and gaining access to local industrial resources and cross-border logistics networks,” an LICC representative said in an interview.

Representatives of 10 well-known organizations and companies from Russia including Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, Sberbank, FESCO Transportation Group and Arenadata attended the session. They represented a wide range of industries, including the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, financial services, cross-border logistics, energy, real estate, and consumer goods.

They brought specific projects, resources, and cooperation proposals and expressed their willingness to engage in open dialogue with potential Chinese partners.

The event began with presentations on investment opportunities and key industries in the Russian market for Chinese companies. Representatives from several Russian enterprises also introduced their businesses and shared examples of potential international cooperation.

Participants listen as speakers share insights into investment opportunities and key industries in the Russian market during the event.

“I'm very glad that Shenzhen was chosen for our trip. As perhaps the AI capital of China, Shenzhen is of great interest to me,” said Vadim Soldatov, head of AI Products Portfolio at Skala^R.

Vadim Soldatov, head of AI Products Portfolio at Skala^R, poses for a photo during an interview. 

“Skala^R produces hardware and software systems, and therefore, anything related to either hardware or software — including AI models, AI applications, or our Spectr AI platform for load management — can be a subject of collaboration and discussion,” Soldatov said.

“It was very interesting to meet companies that are working on AI solutions, agent systems, or AI computing infrastructure,” he added.

Representatives of Shenzhen enterprises attending the session also introduced their businesses during the event.

“We're very interested in using this event to understand Russian businesses and their needs, and to see what opportunities exist. Wherever there's a factory, they need our digitization services because digitization manages raw materials, production processes, quality control, and production capacity management — it's a natural fit,” said Song Yonghua, CEO of Shenzhen Suntec Information Technology Co., Ltd.

Song added that he would like to visit Russia to understand Russian companies and that events like the Russia Session serve as an important bridge for building partnerships.

Following the official program, participants took part in business matchmaking sessions and networking discussions, allowing companies to exchange ideas and explore potential areas of cooperation.

The LICC, launched in October 2023, serves as a hub for international cooperation and community integration in Shenzhen. “We host regular salons for overseas chambers of commerce, sharing sessions for cross-border enterprises and exchange events for international talents almost every week to maintain regular communication with overseas partners," an LICC representative said.

Participants pose for a group photo at the Russia Session of the Asia-Pacific International Cooperation and Exchange Series at the Shenzhen Longhua International Cooperation Center.