08:45-09:45
IEC "Kazan Expo", Lounge A
TASS Business Breakfast: Russia and China – Building Cooperation Through Tourism and MediaOrganizer: TASS Russian News Agency
Russia and China are entering a new stage of humanitarian and interregional cooperation, marked by expanding business ties, new joint initiatives, and a rapidly growing flow of tourists between the two countries. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, bilateral tourist traffic increased by 50%. A key driver of this growth has been the visa-free travel regime, extended through the end of 2027, which has opened new opportunities for developing tourism routes.
Beyond the traditional destinations of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Chinese travelers are increasingly exploring other regions of Russia—from chasing the Northern Lights in Murmansk to enjoying sunsets in Nizhny Novgorod. At the same time, Russian tourists are discovering the unique attractions of Northeast China.
The next challenge is how to transform this surge of interest into sustainable long-term tourism. How can destinations offer travelers new and authentic experiences? Who will tell these stories in a way that inspires people to visit?
Russia's largest news agency, TASS, and China's Xinhua News Agency invite representatives of regional governments, the tourism industry, and the media community to discuss how joint efforts can shape a new map of tourism routes connecting Russia and China.
Beyond Moscow and Beijing: what can Russian regions and Chinese provinces offer each other? What are the prospects for gastronomic, industrial, and experiential tourism? How do media outlets, digital platforms, and travel bloggers influence destination choices and regional branding? What barriers continue to hinder tourism growth, including transportation, language, and payment systems? What practical measures can governments, businesses, and the media take to remove these barriers?
Moderator: Marat Abulkhatin, Deputy Director General of TASS, Secretary General of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA)
Speakers:- Alexander Babakov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation;
- Talia Minullina, Head of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency;
- Liu Hua, Deputy Director, Xinhua Institute, Xinhua News Agency;
- Vasily Orlov, Governor of Amur Oblast;
- Elvira Aleksandrova, GR Specialist, Alabuga Special Economic Zone;
- Yana Makshina, CEO of the Saint Petersburg City Tourist Information Bureau;
- Alla Samoilova, Head of the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare (Roszdravnadzor), Doctor of Medical Sciences;
- Svetlana Akulova, General Director of the Moscow State Zoo, a State Autonomous Cultural Institution of the City of Moscow, Deputy of the Moscow City Duma;
- Arsen Shiroyan, Commercial Director of VTB Medicine JSC;
- Tatyana Zhurba, Head of the Micro and Small Business Client Relations Department, A7.