The opening ceremony of the 13th China-Russia Cultural Festival took place in Heihe, northeast China's Heilongjiang province, on June 20.

The festival is a collaborative effort organized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the People's Government of Heilongjiang Province, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, and the Government of Amur Oblast.

During the ceremony, Lu Yingchuan, China’s vice-minister of Culture and Tourism, delivered a speech and announced the festival’s commencement. Lu highlighted the festival's significance as a flagship project promoting cultural exchange in the border areas of China and Russia, combining elements of culture, tourism, sports, and business since its establishment in 2010. The festival has continued to innovate, and was even held during the pandemic, witnessing the deep friendship between the two peoples.

The Chinese and Russian guests attending the ceremony watched a grand artistic performance presented by artists from both countries.

The 13th China-Russia Cultural Festival comprises 30 activities classified into five main categories: high-end mutual visits, cultural exchanges, integration of trade and tourism, investment promotion, as well as the construction of the cross-border cultural and tourism corridor. The festival will run until August 30th.