On June 12, Russia celebrates its National Day, a moment to honor over a millennium of statehood and the unity of people, from Kaliningrad’s Baltic shores to Vladivostok’s Pacific waves. In Hong Kong, we share this celebration with our friends, reflecting on the vibrant partnership between Russia and this special administrative region of China. Together, we weave a tapestry of shared history, economic potential, and cultural exchanges, showcasing modern Russia’s resilience and Hong Kong’s role as a global hub. We build bridges for a prosperous future.

Eighty years ago, Russia and China stood united in the Great Patriotic War (the Eastern Front of World War II) and the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), with Hong Kong enduring Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945. In Hong Kong’s Happy Valley Cemetery, the graves of the Soviet sailors, killed in a 1941 bombardment, reveal the tragedy and geographical scale of World War II. The consulate works tirelessly to restore these sites, preserving our common legacy alongside the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region authorities.

We commend the robust economic partnership between the two sides, which has endured hostile Western pressure, including illegal unilateral sanctions and efforts to tarnish Hong Kong’s vibrant free economy, showcasing our shared resolve. Russia’s economic partnership with China thrives, with bilateral trade reaching $245 billion in 2024, nearly 90 percent of which is settled in either the ruble or the yuan. Trade between Russian and the HKSAR, valued at $3.3 billion last year, holds significant potential. Russian companies are eager to engage in Hong Kong’s transformative projects, like the Northern Metropolis, driving innovation. With support from the Russian Export Center, Russian goods expand through specialized stores in Hong Kong, offering quality products and positioning the HKSAR as a gateway for Russian trade in Asia.

The economic partnership is complemented by growing trust in Hong Kong’s legal framework. We observe that Russian entrepreneurs praise Hong Kong’s robust legal system, reflecting confidence in the HKSAR’s legal system. They increasingly choose its arbitration centers to resolve commercial disputes. Following the trend, Russian legal firms are eager to expand their respective businesses in Hong Kong.

Our economic ties are developing, with Russian regions pursuing collaboration with Hong Kong. Last year, a Ryazan region delegation, led by Governor Pavel Malkov, visited the city, forging ties to explore trade and investment in agriculture and manufacturing. Meanwhile, Irkutsk region companies showcased food and agricultural goods, like cereals and preserves, at the HKTDC Food Expo 2024, securing trade agreements and highlighting Hong Kong’s role as a gateway for regional Russian exports to Asia.

Together, we weave a tapestry of shared history, economic potential, and cultural exchanges, showcasing modern Russia’s resilience and Hong Kong’s role as a global hub. We build bridges for a prosperous future

Beyond these robust economic and regional bonds, our cultural exchanges deepen our partnership. The 2024-25 cross-years of Russian and Chinese culture enriched our bonds. The performances of the Mariinsky Orchestra, led by the renowned conductor Valery Gergiev in Macao, and the Borodin Quartet’s classical music concerts in Hong Kong, captivated audiences.

The Masters Night concert in December 2024 united Russian stars, including bass singer Ildar Abdrazakov, renowned pianist Denis Matsuev, distinguished soprano Olga Peretyatko, and acclaimed conductor Yury Bashmet, with the great tenor of Hong Kong’s Warren Mok, whose performance at the Palace Museum in West Kowloon showcased the HKSAR’s cultural vibrancy, blending Russian classics with Podmoskovnye Vechera, a folk song reminiscent of a Cantonese classic, performed in Chinese. At the Affordable Art Fair in May 2025, the displays of Russian artists living in Hong Kong attracted thousands of visitors, reflecting the city’s cosmopolitan spirit. These cultural ties extend to education, with Russian universities, including Southern Federal University, working with Hong Kong institutions in bioremediation and technology. In sports, Russians won 16 medals at the Hong Kong Wushu Championship and two wrestling golds, reinforcing Hong Kong’s global sports-hub status.

Looking to the future, the two sides share a vision for deeper ties across various spheres. Tourism flourishes, with more than 130,000 Russian visitors to Hong Kong in 2024, up 118 percent from 2023, fueled by direct Moscow flights from autumn to spring, inviting Hong Kong residents to explore Russia’s vibrant cities. Logistics offers vast potential, as the Northern Sea Route opens faster trade routes for Hong Kong’s transshipment hub.

Russia’s National Day inspires us to deepen our shared journey, forging a future uniting innovation and culture, from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s horizons to the cultural heart of Saint Petersburg and the boundless Far East, where vibrant forums, like the St Petersburg International Economic Forum and the Eastern Economic Forum, eagerly await Hong Kong’s entrepreneurs. We invite Hong Kong, a dynamic global hub, to join us in expanding our exchanges, building a strong partnership for years to come.

Anatoly Kargapolov is the consul general of Russia in Hong Kong.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.