The 3rd Russia China Mutually Beneficial Cooperation "Sprout" Forum opened on the 18th in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, attracting more than 200 Chinese companies to participate. On August 18th, representatives from multiple countries held negotiations at the 3rd Russia China Mutually Beneficial Cooperation "Sprout" Forum in Kazan, Russia. Photo by Zhang Chaoqun, Xinhua News Agency. This forum lasted for two days and featured over 60 themed exchange activities covering fields such as economy, finance, law, industry, education, culture, transportation, and tourism. It provided a platform for direct dialogue and deep cooperation between enterprises from both countries. During the forum, attending representatives will discuss the current situation and trends of cooperation between Russia and China in various fields, and local governments and enterprises of the two countries will also sign multiple cooperation agreements. On August 18th, the 3rd Russia China Mutually Beneficial Cooperation "Sprout" Forum was held in Kazan, Russia. Photo by Zhang Chaoqun, Xinhua News Agency. Chinese Consul General in Kazan, Xiang Bo, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, stating that after three years of development, the forum has become an important platform for promoting local cooperation between China and Russia, effectively promoting local economic and social development between the two countries, and playing an increasingly important role in bilateral relations. On August 18th, Russian children drew Peking Opera masks at the 3rd Russia China Mutual Benefit Cooperation "Sprout" Forum held in Kazan. Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Chaoqun photographed the Chief Executive of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, Minikhanov, who stated that for many years, Russia and China have developed strategic relations on the basis of mutual respect. The Republic of Tatarstan attaches great importance to cooperation with China, and since last year, Kazan has opened direct flights to multiple cities in China. Kazan is about 800 kilometers away from Moscow and is one of the 16 cities in Russia with a population of over one million, known as the "third capital of Russia". In September 2023, Kazan held the first "Sprout" Forum on Russia China Mutually Beneficial Cooperation. (New Society)