A partnership forged with the right approach defies geographical distance. This week, Beijing and Moscow held a series of vibrant and engaging exchange activities in each other’s cities, as part of joint efforts to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their sister-city ties. This grand initiative stands as a vivid testament to the two heads of state’s shared vision for strengthening subnational cooperation and marks a significant chapter in the history of sister-city ties between the two capitals.

Beijing Fever Grips Distant Moscow

On June 10, a series of events titled “Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Sister-City Relations between Beijing and Moscow”, co-hosted by the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality and the Moscow Government, officially kicked off in Moscow. Zhang Hanhui, Chinese Ambassador to Russia; Xia Linmao, Executive Vice Mayor of Beijing; Vyacheslav Manuilov, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow; and Masyagina Natalia, Rector of the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism, attended the opening ceremony, along with over 1,000 participants from various sectors in Moscow.

With the referee’s whistle, the youth ice hockey friendship match kicked off. Players from the Capital University of Physical Education and Sports and the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism engaged in a fierce and fast-paced game. Their exceptional skills and seamless teamwork made the friendship match thrilling and captivating. The arena was filled with cheers as spectators exclaimed “Потрясающе!” (“Amazing!”), “Wonderful!” and “So exciting!”

The “Hello, Beijing” Photo Exhibition and Intangible Cultural Heritage Showcase drew a bustling crowd. The photo exhibition featured Beijing’s historic and cultural landmarks, distinctive modern architecture, and trending hotspots, offering a comprehensive portrayal of the city’s urban landscape. In particular, it also highlighted memorable moments from the historical exchanges between the two cities, attracting widespread attention from visitors. Some guests couldn’t help but exclaim, “Beijing is the best!”

The Peking Opera-themed intangible cultural heritage interactive zone attracted numerous guests. Performers from the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts appeared in costumes from the classic pieces Monkey King Stealing Peaches and Elixirs and Stirring Up the Chariots. Lin Hongkui, the inheritor of painted Peking Opera mask sculpture, presented masks modeled after renowned Peking Opera artists. Meanwhile, Peking Opera-inspired pastries from Imperial Kitchen were warmly received by the visitors.

Beijing’s Century-Old “Golden Street” Welcomes the “Moscow Culture Festival”

At the bustling Wangfujing Street, also known as Beijing’s “Golden Street”, numerous visitors explored the exotic charm of Moscow. Following the celebrations in Moscow, Wangfujing Street took up the baton in hosting a series of events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of sister-city relations between Beijing and Moscow. On June 12, the “Moscow Culture Festival”, hosted by the Moscow Government and supported by the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, opened in Beijing. The four-day festival features a rich array of themed activities, from folk traditions and jazz to modern and classical arts, offering Beijing citizens and visitors a firsthand experience of Moscow’s diverse cultural appeal.

Wangfujing Street was transformed into a pedestrian zone brimming with Russian flair, lined with themed stalls adorned in traditional Russian patterns. Thoughtfully designed rest areas, decorated with birch trees and wildflowers, evoked the atmosphere of a Moscow park, creating a unique urban ambiance.

Beijing and Moscow also co-hosted an economic and trade cooperation roundtable and a thematic meeting on the synergy of their strategic partnership. Government officials and enterprise representatives from both cities engaged in in-depth exchanges and matchmaking sessions across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, culture and tourism, and intelligent transportation, to explore cooperation opportunities. As a result, several cooperation intentions were made. These efforts will expand practical collaboration across multiple fields and continuously inject fresh momentum into the development of the sister-city ties between Beijing and Moscow.

In 2024, during an official visit to Beijing at the invitation of the city, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Mayor of Beijing Yin Yong jointly signed a program of cooperation between Beijing and Moscow for 2024-2026, charting the future course for their sister-city relationship. Moving forward, Beijing will work with Moscow to further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and usher in a new chapter for the next 30 years of their sister-city ties. These efforts will inject strong momentum into the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.