On 16-19 August, Kazan will host the 4th International Forum “SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation”, which will once again bring together representatives of businesses, government agencies, and regions of both countries. Amid the recovery of Russian-Chinese trade, Tatarstan continues to strengthen its position as a key hub for cooperation with China.
By the end of 2025, Tatarstan’s trade turnover with China reached 3.35 billion USD, maintaining its positive momentum. Moreover, over the past ten years, the Republic’s mutual trade with China has increased more than 12-fold, significantly outpacing the overall Russian growth rate. As a comparison, trade turnover between Russia and China increased 3.8-fold over the same period.
After a slight decline in Russian-Chinese trade last year, the partnership is once again showing strong growth. In the first half of 2026, trade turnover between Russia and China increased by 26% to 134 billion USD, confirming the continued strong interest of businesses in both countries in joint projects.
One of the factors driving this growth is the development of cooperation between Russian regions and Chinese provinces. Tatarstan currently has eight intergovernmental agreements with Chinese regions and is actively developing industrial cooperation, investment projects, humanitarian ties, and transportation accessibility. Flights between Kazan and Shanghai and Kazan and Sanya create additional opportunities for developing business contacts, tourism, and investment cooperation.
A significant part of the SPROUTS Forum programme is dedicated to interregional cooperation. This year, the Forum will feature over 100 events, including over 50 industrial business sessions covering industry, investment, logistics, finance, agriculture, high technology, education, culture, and humanitarian cooperation.
Over the past few years, the Forum has grown into one of the largest platforms for Russian-Chinese cooperation. Representatives from 67 Russian regions and 28 Chinese administrative units participated last year, and in 2026, the Forum plans to expand its geographic reach and take interregional cooperation to a new level.
“In order for this regional cooperation with China to flourish, we certainly need effective platforms for collaboration, where we could communicate, meet regularly, and reach agreements. The SPROUTS Forum is exactly such kind of a platform. Today, Tatarstan has taken on the role of a leading region in developing relations with China, and this is reflected in specific numbers. While trade between Russia and China has grown 3.8-fold over the past ten years, it has grown more than 12-fold between Tatarstan and China. This is the result of systematic efforts to develop partnerships with Chinese regions,” noted Taliya Minullina, Chief Executive of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency.
Media accreditation for the International Forum "SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation" is open until 7 August via the link.
Participant registration for the Forum is available via the link.
*****
The International Forum “SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation” will be held in Kazan on 16-19 August.
The business programme includes such areas as interstate dialogue, economics, industry, education, business and entrepreneurship, business associations, finance and investment, culture, media, law, transport, agriculture, tourism, and construction.
The SPROUTS Business Forum has reinforced its standing as a leading international platform by receiving the EFEA Awards and by being named both a laureate and a finalist of the prestigious Russian Event Awards international prize.
The operator for the preparation and hosting the “SPROUTS” Forum is the “Directorate of International Programmes”, ANO.
Official website of the “SPROUTS” Forum
By the end of 2025, Tatarstan’s trade turnover with China reached 3.35 billion USD, maintaining its positive momentum. Moreover, over the past ten years, the Republic’s mutual trade with China has increased more than 12-fold, significantly outpacing the overall Russian growth rate. As a comparison, trade turnover between Russia and China increased 3.8-fold over the same period.
After a slight decline in Russian-Chinese trade last year, the partnership is once again showing strong growth. In the first half of 2026, trade turnover between Russia and China increased by 26% to 134 billion USD, confirming the continued strong interest of businesses in both countries in joint projects.
One of the factors driving this growth is the development of cooperation between Russian regions and Chinese provinces. Tatarstan currently has eight intergovernmental agreements with Chinese regions and is actively developing industrial cooperation, investment projects, humanitarian ties, and transportation accessibility. Flights between Kazan and Shanghai and Kazan and Sanya create additional opportunities for developing business contacts, tourism, and investment cooperation.
A significant part of the SPROUTS Forum programme is dedicated to interregional cooperation. This year, the Forum will feature over 100 events, including over 50 industrial business sessions covering industry, investment, logistics, finance, agriculture, high technology, education, culture, and humanitarian cooperation.
Over the past few years, the Forum has grown into one of the largest platforms for Russian-Chinese cooperation. Representatives from 67 Russian regions and 28 Chinese administrative units participated last year, and in 2026, the Forum plans to expand its geographic reach and take interregional cooperation to a new level.
“In order for this regional cooperation with China to flourish, we certainly need effective platforms for collaboration, where we could communicate, meet regularly, and reach agreements. The SPROUTS Forum is exactly such kind of a platform. Today, Tatarstan has taken on the role of a leading region in developing relations with China, and this is reflected in specific numbers. While trade between Russia and China has grown 3.8-fold over the past ten years, it has grown more than 12-fold between Tatarstan and China. This is the result of systematic efforts to develop partnerships with Chinese regions,” noted Taliya Minullina, Chief Executive of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency.
Media accreditation for the International Forum "SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation" is open until 7 August via the link.
Participant registration for the Forum is available via the link.
*****
The International Forum “SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation” will be held in Kazan on 16-19 August.
The business programme includes such areas as interstate dialogue, economics, industry, education, business and entrepreneurship, business associations, finance and investment, culture, media, law, transport, agriculture, tourism, and construction.
The SPROUTS Business Forum has reinforced its standing as a leading international platform by receiving the EFEA Awards and by being named both a laureate and a finalist of the prestigious Russian Event Awards international prize.
The operator for the preparation and hosting the “SPROUTS” Forum is the “Directorate of International Programmes”, ANO.
Official website of the “SPROUTS” Forum